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More than 200 compositions are known from Karl Friedrich Abel, covering symphonies, concertos, chamber music and sonatas. Most were published in his lifetime in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin and his work reflects the evolution of music from the gallant style to mid-classicism. His later works were considered to be less creative, but overall Abel’s compositions were very popular and of high quality. CPO records have several CDs of Abel’s symphonies, concertos and chamber music; other recordings exist also. Karl Friedrich Abel is another example of a composer brushed aside by history, dying just before the French Revolution, to be rediscovered and reinstated recently.
(Contribution by Adrian House <adrian.house
ntlworld.com>)
Life
Brother of Leopold August.
Little known today, Abel was renowned throughout Europe in his time and, with Johann Christian Bach between 1765 and 1781, presented the famous "Bach-Abel Concerts" in London promoting both their own and others’ compositions. Abel’s father played in the Dresden orchestra during J.S. Bach’s time, and young Abel was a master viol gambist. After leaving Dresden (1758), he visited Mannheim and Paris before settling in London in 1759. His influence on London’s musical scene steadily increased, and young Mozart studied his compositions there in 1764. Apart from two years in Germany, Abel spent his remaining life playing and composing in England.
(Contribution by Adrian House <adrian.housentlworld.com>)