Whether you're looking for composer biographies, historical music articles or public domain sheet music, Music of Yesterday has what you are looking for. We update content daily and link the best articles on this page weekly to keep you up to date on what's new.
Our content consists of article extracts from newspapers, magazines and books written and published prior to 1923 bringing to you the flavor of early music history as it was presented by prominent people in the music industry at that time including articles written by famous composers about other famous composers as well as articles written by opera stars and the top music educators of the time.
Also included in our archive are articles concerning the teaching of various musical instruments as well as music theory and what the best methods were for teaching students of all ages.
Most of our biographies include not only birth dates and places but more personal information on the lives and times of the person being studied and in some cases the interaction between composers of their time. Learn about their struggles, successes and more.
Are you interested in information about a particular opera? Read a short description of some of the most famous operas; feel the drama.
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| Charles Frederic Abel |
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Charles Frederic Abel, a celebrated musician, and the most skillful performer on the "viola de gamba" of his time, was born at Coethen, 1725, and learned music under Sebastian Bach. He was employed for ten years at the Royal Chapel of Dresden, when the misfortunes of war obliged the court to reduce its expenses. Abel left in 1758, and traveled through Germany, thence to England, where the Duke of York procured a situation for him, with a salary of two hundred pounds sterling. Soon after, he was made director of the Chapel of the Princess. He remained in London until 1783, then went to Berlin, where, although sixty five years old, he excited general admiration by his fine, expressive performances. Although his temper was quick, and his manners unrefined, he was well received in society. He died June 27, 1787, of a lethargy which lasted three days. He wrote some seventeen works, which were published in London, Paris, and Berlin. Abel wrote for the English operas, "Love in a Village," and "Berenice." |