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Ernst Gottlieb BaronGerman lutenist, composer and musicologist
Date of Birth: 17.02.1696
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Biography of Ernst Gottlieb Baron
- Early Musical Education
- Travels and Career
- Appointment in Gotha and Eisenach
- Joining the Prussian Musical Ensemble
- Life in Berlin and Legacy
Biography of Ernst Gottlieb Baron
Ernst Gottlieb Baron, the German lutenist, composer, and musicologist, was born on February 17, 1696, in Breslau. His father, Michael Baron, was a master in making galloons and trimmings and wished his son to follow in his footsteps. However, from a young age, Ernst Gottlieb showed a strong inclination towards music and later made it his profession.
Early Musical Education
Around 1710, Baron began studying the art of playing the lute under the guidance of a Czech musician named Kohott. He attended the Elisabeth Gymnasium in Breslau and became a student at the University of Leipzig in 1715, where he studied philosophy and jurisprudence.
Travels and Career
From 1719 to 1728, Ernst Gottlieb traveled from one small European court to another, seeking fame, wealth, and the attention of high-ranking individuals. He visited places such as Halle, Köthen, Schleiz, Saalfeld, and Rudolstadt. In 1720, he stayed in Jena for two years before moving on to Kassel, Fulda, Würzburg, Nuremberg, and Regensburg. In 1727, Baron returned to Nuremberg, where he published his work "Historisch-theoretische und practische Untersuchung des Instruments der Lauten," a work that secured his place in history.
Appointment in Gotha and Eisenach
In 1728, Baron replaced the lutenist Meusel, who had recently died from falling off a horse, at the court of the ruler of Gotha. He held this position for four years. After the death of the Duke of Gotha, Baron moved to Eisenach, where he found a new position.
Joining the Prussian Musical Ensemble
In 1737, Baron visited Merseburg, Köthen, and Zerbst before eventually joining the musical ensemble of Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia as a theorbo player, a musical instrument similar to the lute. He obtained permission to travel to Dresden to acquire a theorbo and received training from the lutenist Sylvius Leopold Weiss.
Life in Berlin and Legacy
After Frederick ascended the throne in 1740, Baron continued to perform as a theorbo player in the royal musical ensembles and held this position until his death. He passed away on April 12, 1760, in Berlin. Baron's most significant written work, "Historisch-theoretische und practische Untersuchung des Instruments der Lauten," is considered an invaluable source of information on lutenist musicians and the intricacies of playing the lute during the Baroque era. The work is divided into two main parts; the first covers the instrument's history and includes notes on contemporary performers, while the second focuses on practical exercises for playing the instrument.