August Kuhnel

Full biography August Kuhnel

August Kuhnel (3 August 1645-c. 1700) was a German composer and accomplished viola da gamba player in the Baroque period. He was born in Delmenhorst, Germany, and came from a family of musicians. His grandfather Samuel Kuhnel was a good musician, and his father, Auguste Kuhnel, was also a musician and a viola da gamba player, who also served as a court musician in the service of Count Anton Gunther of Oldenburg.

August Kuhnel's main instrument was the viola da gamba , for which he also wrote numerous sonatas and suites. He was a highly regarded composer in his time and his music earned him a reputation for technical skill and musical inventiveness. Some of his most notable works include his Viola da Gamba Sonatas, which are considered among the finest examples of Baroque music for the instrument. It is worth noting that Johann Sebastian Bach was inspired by Kuhnel's work and borrowed from it in some of his own compositions, including his Cantata BWV 113.

While Kuhnel's life is not well documented, it is clear that he left a lasting impression on the musical world. His contributions to Baroque music are still appreciated today, and his compositions continue to be studied and performed by modern musicians.