John Abell

Born at Cothen 1717, died at Ludwigslust, August 25, 1794; elder brother of Karl Friedrich Abel, violinist, and pupil of Benda. He played in the orchestra of the theatre at Brunswick, and was successively conductor of the court band to the Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (1758), the Margrave of Schwedt (1766), and the Duke of Schwerin (1770). He composed a sinfonia a 8 voci in 1766, and some violin studies, etc., are in the possession of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde at Vienna; he never rose to the reputation of his brother.