(b Tiefenort, 10 Feb 1696; d Karlsruhe, 12 Jan 1765). German composer. He worked at the Baden-Durlach court at Karlsruhe, studied in Italy (1719-21) and became Kapellmeister (1722). After a period as Kapellmeister at Eisenach, 1734-41, he returned to Karlsruhe, where he later reorganized the Kapelle. Prominent in his output are 170 sinfonias, over 40 solo concertos (some are among the earliest for clarinet), 21 orchestral sonatas (a genre unique Molter), other orchestral music and over 100 chamber works. His music reflects many influences and shows a move from late Baroque to galant style; imaginative instrumentation is often a feature. He also composed oratorios, cantatas and keyboard music.
