Thomas Baltzar (c.1630-1663) Allemande and Variations in G minor

Patrick Wood, violinist
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Baltzar-Complete-Unaccompanied-Violin/dp/B000XULO70

____________________________________________________________

Thomas Baltzar (c. 1631 -- 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.[1] 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.
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.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Baltzar]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 159
• Thomas
• Baltzar
• c
• 1630
• 1663
• Allemande
• and
• Variations
• in
• Gm

[redbrian3655]

On Baltzer performing on violin in 1653: " though a very young man, yet so perfect & skillful as there was nothing so crosse & perplext, which being by our Artists, brought to him, which he did not at first sight, with ravishing sweetenesse & improvements, play off, to the astonishment of our best Masters: In Summ, he plaid on that single Instrument a full Consort, so as the rest, flung-downe their Instruments, as acknowledging a victory!" He died from alcoholism.