(b Cöthen, 1723; d London, 1787). Ger. composer and player of viola da gamba. Pupil of J. S. Bach at Leipzig; orch. player under Hasse at Dresden 1748–58. Settled in London 1759, becoming chamber musician to Queen Charlotte. Associated with J. C. Bach in promoting and directing Bach–Abel subscription concerts 1765–82. Comps. incl. ov. to T. Arne's pasticcio Love in a village (1762), syms., ovs., sonatas, etc.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 5th Edition. Copyright © Oxford University Press, 2007. All rights reserved.