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Karl Ferdinand BeckerGerman violinist, organist and music critic
Date of Birth: 17.07.1804
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Carl Ferdinand Becker: German Musician and Musicologist
- Musical Career
- Academic and Critical Contributions
- Musicological Works
- Choral Publications
- Legacy
Carl Ferdinand Becker: German Musician and Musicologist
Early Life and EducationCarl Ferdinand Becker was born on July 17, 1804, in Leipzig, Germany, as the son of Gottfried Wilhelm Becker. He received his musical education at the esteemed St. Thomas School under the tutelage of renowned musicians Johann Gottfried Schicht and Friedrich Schneider.
Musical Career
Becker began his professional career as a violinist in the Gewandhaus Orchestra from 1820 to 1833. In 1825, he was appointed organist at St. Peter's Church in Leipzig, a position he held until 1837. Subsequently, he became the organist at St. Nicholas Church in 1837.
Academic and Critical Contributions
In 1848, Becker became a professor of organ and music history at the Leipzig Conservatory. He also contributed extensively to Robert Schumann's "Neue Zeitschrift für Musik" (New Music Journal) from its inception in 1834. In 1843, he served as editor of the "Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung" (General Musical Journal).
Musicological Works
Becker authored several groundbreaking musicological works, including:
- "Rathgeber für Organisten"(1828): A comprehensive guide for organists.
- "Systematisch-chrologische Darstellung der musikalischen Litteratur"(1836): A systematic and chronological history of music literature.
- "Die Tonkünstler des 19. Jahrhunderts"(1847): A biographical dictionary of 19th-century composers.
- "Die Tonwerke des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts"(1847): An index of musical works from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Choral Publications
Becker also compiled and published several collections of chorales, including a notable edition of Johann Sebastian Bach's chorales (1844).
Legacy
Carl Ferdinand Becker passed away on February 28, 1877, in Leipzig. He is remembered as a pivotal figure in 19th-century German music, contributing significantly to the understanding and performance of both historical and contemporary music.
