|
Thomas Baltzar (''c''. 1630 – July 24, 1663) was a German violinist and composer. He was born in Lübeck to a musical family; his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all musicians.〔Holman, Peter. "Baltzar, Thomas". ''(Grove Music Online )'' (subscription required). ed. L. Macy. Retrieved on May 31, 2008.〕 Sources suggest an array of music teachers who may have taught him in his early years. According to the writings of Samuel Hartlib, composer and violinist Johann Schop was one of those instructors. Baltzar may have studied the violin with Gregor Zuber and composition with Franz Tunder. He may have also received instruction from composer and violinist Nicolaus Bleyer, who taught Baltzar's younger brother.〔Walls, Peter (2004). "(Baltzar, Thomas (c.1630–1663) )". ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (subscription required). Oxford University Press. Retrieved on May 31, 2008.〕 Through contacts at Germany's embassy in Sweden (where, by 1653, Baltzar was employed), he may have come in contact with English musicians accompanying Bulstrode Whitelocke's mission to Queen Christina. This possible encounter may have been the impetus for Baltzar's decision to emigrate to England in 1655, leaving behind his newly attained position of ''Ratslutenist'' of Lübeck (he had returned briefly to his home city, probably shortly after Christina's abdication in June 1654). Hartlib's writings indicate that the Swedish ambassador to England, Christer Bonde, took in Baltzar.〔 Baltzar's arrival in England was met with acclaim. On March 4, 1656, he performed the violin at the residence of Roger L'Estrange, where John Evelyn was in attendance. Evelyn wrote in his ''Diary'' that night:〔
In September 1656, Baltzar was listed as one of the musicians who helped premiere ''The Siege of Rhodes'' in London,〔 thought to have been the first all-sung English opera.〔Price, Curtis. "Siege of Rhodes, The.". ''(Grove Music Online )'' (subscription required). ed. L. Macy. Retrieved on May 31, 2008.〕 Two years later, according to Anthony Wood, he was employed as a private musician for Sir Anthony Cope at Hanwell House in Banbury.〔 Wood, who had heard Baltzar play at a performance in Oxford, described his "very great astonishment" at the German's skill.〔 "() saw him run his fingers to the end of the finger-board of the violin, and run them back insensibly," he wrote, "and all with alacrity and in very good tune, which () nor any in England saw the like before."〔 Also in attendance was John Wilson, a professor of music at the University of Oxford, who, according to Wood, bowed at Baltzar's feet after the performance.〔 On December 23, 1661, Baltzar entered Charles II's service as a member of the king's private music ensemble with an annual salary of £110, a high figure for the time.〔 Some of Baltzar's surviving compositions, including a work in C major that may be the earliest suite for three violins,〔 require virtuosity and technical mastery. According to Wood, Baltzar's drinking habits contributed to his death. He was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey on July 27, 1663.〔 ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Thomas Baltzar」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|