Abel, Karl Friedrich (1723–1787), composer and concert impresario, was born on 22 December 1723 in Cöthen, Saxony, one of six children. His father, Christian Ferdinand Abel (c.1683–1737), served as violinist for Johann Sebastian Bach, under whom Karl Friedrich may have studied at the ...
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Abel, Karl Friedrich (1723–1787), composer and concert impresario
Stephen M. Buhler
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Abel, Karl Friedrich (1723–1787)
Maker: Thomas Gainsborough
In
Karl Friedrich Abel (1723–1787) by Thomas Gainsborough, exh. RA 1777 The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA, USA
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Abell, John (b. 1653, d. in or after 1716), singer and composer
W. B. Squire
revised by Nicholas Salwey
Abell, John (b. 1653, d. in or after 1716), singer and composer, was born in Aberdeenshire and was admitted as a 'gentleman of his majesty's chapel extraordinary' on 1 May 1679, about which time he is listed among the musicians of the king's private music, as singer, lutenist, and violinist. ...
Article
Abrams, Harriett (c. 1758–1821), singer and composer
Olive Baldwin and Thelma Wilson
Abrams, Harriett (c. 1758–1821), singer and composer, was, according to her niece's husband, Thomas Adolphus Trollope, the daughter of a man who came to England 'in the suite of some Hanoverian minister, in what capacity I never heard' (Trollope, 151...
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Addinsell, Richard Stewart (1904–1977), composer and pianist
Andrew Lamb
Addinsell, Richard Stewart (1904–1977), composer and pianist, was born at 31 Woburn Square, London, on 13 January 1904, the younger of the two sons of William Arthur Addinsell, chartered accountant, and his wife, Annie Beatrice Richards. His adoring mother arranged for him to be educated at home, and this seemingly made him allergic to institutions thereafter. He went to ...
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Addison, John (c. 1766–1844), double bass player and composer
W. B. Squire
revised by David J. Golby
Addison, John (c. 1766–1844), double bass player and composer, was born in London, the son of a village mechanic. As a child he showed considerable musical ability, learning to play a variety of instruments, including the flageolet, flute, bassoon, and violin. He was also self-taught in composition, and his early works include a set of ...
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Adler, Lawrence Cecil [Larry] (1914–2001), harmonica player and composer
Raymond Holden
Adler, Lawrence Cecil [Larry] (1914–2001), harmonica player and composer, was born on 10 February 1914 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, the son of Louis Adler, plumber, and his wife, Sadie Hack. His family were of Russian descent and changed their name from Zelakovitch to ...
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![Cover Adler, Lawrence Cecil [Larry] (1914–2001)](/cover/searchableMedia/odnb-9780198614128-e-1013083-graphic-1-thumbnail.jpg)
Adler, Lawrence Cecil [Larry] (1914–2001)
Maker: Ida Kar
In
Lawrence Cecil Adler (1914–2001) by Ida Kar, 1950s © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Adson, John (bap. 1587?, d. 1640), musician and composer
David Lasocki
Adson, John (bap. 1587
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Alcock, John (bap. 1740, d. 1791)
See Alcock, John
Article
Alcock, John (1715–1806), organist and composer chorister
H. Diack Johnstone
Alcock, John (1715–1806), organist and composer, was born at the family home, Crane Court, St Peter's Hill, London, on 11 April 1715, the third of the eight children of Daniel Alcock (bap. 1686) and his wife, Mary. They lived only a stone's throw from ...
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Aldridge, Amanda Christina Elizabeth [pseud. Montague Ring] (1866–1956), singer and composer
Stephen Bourne
Aldridge, Amanda Christina Elizabeth [pseud. Montague Ring] (1866–1956), singer and composer, was born on 10 March 1866 at Luranah Villa, Hamlet Road, Penge, Surrey, the second of three daughters and third of four children of Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807?–1867), the distinguished African-American tragedian, and his second wife, Swedish opera singer ...
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Aleyn, John [J. Alanus] (d. 1373), composer
Andrew Wathey
Aleyn, John [J. Alanus] (d. 1373), composer, probably came from Pattishall, Northamptonshire. He is first recorded on 29 April 1361 in possession of a chantry in the church of St James Garlickhythe, London. By Michaelmas 1362 he was a clerk and chaplain in the household chapel of ...
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Allen, Henry Robinson (c. 1809–1876), singer, teacher, and composer
Andrew Lamb
Allen, Henry Robinson (c. 1809–1876), singer, teacher, and composer, was born in Cork around 1809, the son of William Allen, gentleman. In Cork he studied music with a Mr Shaw, organist of St Peter’s Church, where he attracted attention as a boy soprano. At fourteen he was apprenticed to ...
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Allitsen, Frances [real name Mary Frances Bumpus] (1848–1912), composer
Sophie Fuller
Allitsen, Frances [real name Mary Frances Bumpus] (1848–1912), composer, was born on 30 December 1848 at 159 Oxford Street, London, one of the seven children of John Bumpus (1817/18–1880), a bookseller, and his wife, Emma Louisa Barton (1824/5–1892). She was baptized Mary Frances Bumpus...
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Allon, Henry Erskine (1864–1897), composer
See Allon, Henry
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Alvars, Elias Parish- (1808–1849), harpist and composer
R. H. Legge
revised by David J. Golby
Alvars, Elias Parish- (1808–1849), harpist and composer, was born on 28 February 1808 at Teignmouth, where he was baptized on 13 March 1808 as Eli Parish, the second child and eldest son of Joseph Parish (1781–1833), organist, singing teacher, and music dealer, and his wife, ...
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Alwyn, William (1905–1985), composer
Piers Burton-Page
revised
Alwyn, William (1905–1985), composer, was born William Alwyn Smith on 7 November 1905 at 54 Kettering Road, Northampton, the son of William James Smith and his wife, Ada Tyler Tompkins. Northampton was also the birthplace of the composers Edmund Rubbra and Malcolm Arnold...
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Amner, John (d. 1641), composer and organist
John Morehen
Amner, John (d. 1641), composer and organist, came from a family which was intimately associated with the music at Ely Cathedral for over half a century. Michael Amner, his uncle, was a lay clerk at the cathedral (1576–88), as was also Ralph Amner...
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Arditi, Luigi (1822–1903), conductor and composer
John Warrack
Arditi, Luigi (1822–1903), conductor and composer, was born on 16 July 1822 in Crescentino, Piedmont, the son of Maurizio Arditi and his wife, Caterina Colombo. He studied the violin with Carossini and Capitani in his home town, with Caldera in Turin, and with ...
