Carl Friedrich Abel

Short bio Carl Friedrich Abel

Birthday: 1723 in Cöthen

Died: 1787 in London, England

Genre: Classical

Period: Classical

Full biography Carl Friedrich Abel

Carl Friedrich Abel was a prominent German composer and performer of the pre-Classical era, known for his works in Baroque and chamber music genres. Born on December 22, 1723, in Köthen, Germany, Abel belonged to a family of musicians and started his career by playing in the court orchestra in Dresden.

After leaving Dresden, Abel traveled to London in 1759, where he was appointed chamber musician to Queen Charlotte. He quickly gained popularity in London and performed in various concerts and operas, making a significant contribution to the flourishing of the city's musical scene.

Abel was widely regarded as a gifted performer of the viola da gamba and is considered one of the most prominent composers for the instrument. He wrote over 200 compositions, including sonatas and concertos for viola da gamba, as well as chamber music pieces and symphonies.

In addition to his musical career, Abel was extensively involved with the management and organization of concerts and operas in London. He founded the hugely successful "Bach-Abel concert series" together with his friend, Johann Christian Bach, which featured many of their own works.

Abel's music is characterized by its expressiveness, melodic richness, and harmonic language, which reflected the changing musical tastes of the time. As a composer and performer, he was highly respected during his lifetime and left a tremendous legacy to the music world.

Today, Carl Friedrich Abel is recognized as a significant figure in the history of music and as one of the finest composers of his era. His music continues to be performed and studied worldwide, and his contributions to the development of Baroque and chamber music genres remain invaluable.

Albums featuring Carl Friedrich Abel

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Telemann, C. P. E. Bach, Chelleri, Abel, J. C. Bach, Prowo - Natalia Lentas, Mariya Miliutsina, Amarilis Dueñas – La Réjouissance Galante (Trio Sonatas For Traverso And Viola Da Gamba)(CD, Album)	2023	Da Vinci Classics
2	Carl Friedrich Abel - Gaetano Simone – The Drexel Manuscript (29 Pieces For Viola Da Gamba)(CD, Album)	2023	Da Vinci Classics
3	Bach & Abel, Lucile Boulanger – Solo	2022	Alpha Classics
4	Carl Friedrich Abel, Paolo Pandolfo – A Sentimental Journey(CD, Mini-Album)	2021	glossa
5	Bach & Abel, Shaun Ng, Diana Weston – Bach & Abel(CD, Album)	2020	Wirripang
6	Sonatas From The Maltzan Collection(CD, Album, Compilation)	2019	DUX Recording Producers
7	Abel, Benda, Quantz, Kirnberger, Müthel, Telemann, Bach, Laurence Dean, Andrew Lawrence-King – Musik Der Empfindsamkeit Für Flöte & Harfe(CD, Album, Reissue)	2019	Christophorus
8	Abel, J.S. Bach, Martínez Gil, Rowe, Schenck, Ibrahim Aziz (2) – Risonanze: Music For Viola Da Gamba(CD, Album)	2019	First Hand Records
9	Carl Friedrich Abel - Kölner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens – Symphonies Op. 1 & Op. 4(2×CD, Album)	2018	cpo
10	Carl Friedrich Abel, La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider (2) – Symphonies Op. 7(CD, Album, Stereo)	2017	cpo
11	Carl Friedrich Abel, Petr Wagner – The Drexel Manuscript(CD, )	2016	Accent
12	Bach, Johann Ludwig Krebs, Carl Friedrich Abel, Helen Callus, Luc Beauséjour – Helen Callus, Bach - Krebs - Abel(CD, )	2015	Analekta
13	Carl Friedrich Abel, Johann Adolph Hasse - Dorothee Mields, Hamburger Ratsmusik, Simone Eckert – Composed To The Soul - Concerti • Quartetti • Arie(CD, Album, Stereo)	2015	cpo
14	Georg Friedrich Haendel, Karl Friedrich Abel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Charles John Stanley - Duo Ad Libitum, Elena Saccomandi, Walter Gatti – L'organo Da Camera(CD, Album, Stereo)	2013	Accademia Organistica Pinerolese
15	Abel, Nordic Affect, Georgia Browne – Music For Flute And Strings(CD, )	2012	Brilliant Classics
16	C.P.E. Bach, C.F. Abel, Rebeka Rusó, Sebastian Wienand – Sonatas For Viola Da Gamba & Fortepiano(CD, Album, Stereo)	2011	Pan Classics
17	Klaus-Dieter Brandt, Barockorchester L'Arpa Festante, Christian Ernst Graf, Carl Friedrich Abel – Cello Concertos And Sinfonias(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel)	2010	Ars Produktion
18	C. F. Abel & J. C. Bach, Il Gardellino – Chamber Music(CD, Album)	2010	Accent
19	Carl Friedrich Abel - Paolo Pandolfo – The Drexel Manuscript(CD, Album, Stereo)	2008	Glossa
20	Carl Friedrich Abel, Susanne Heinrich – Mr Abel's Fine Airs(CD, Album)	2007	Hyperion
21	Abel, Telemann, Bach - Marianne Muller – Suites En Ré(CD, Album)	2004	Zig Zag Territoires
22	Carl Friedrich Abel – Edward Beckett, Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields – The 6 Concertos For Flute & Strings Op.6(CD, Album)	2004	ASV
23	Wieland Kuijken, Abel • Ortiz • Schenck • Telemann • Simpson • Hume – Viola Da Gamba Solo Recital(CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo)	2003	Denon
24	Carl Friedrich Abel, Sabine Bauer, La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider (2) – Piano Concertos Op. 11(CD, Album)	2003	cpo
25	Sergei Istomin - Abel, Schenck, Telemann – Virtuoso Solos For Viola Da Gamba(CD, Album)	2003	Analekta
26	Tobias Hume, Christopher Simpson (2), August Kühnel, Carl Friedrich Abel, Georg Philipp Telemann, Fabrizio Lepri – Touch Me Lightly(CD, )	2002	Discovery Label
27	Carl Friedrich Abel, Philippe Foulon – Pieces Pour Baryton A Cordes(CD, Album, Stereo)	1999	Lyrinx
28	Wilbert Hazelzet, Jacques Ogg, Jaap ter Linden - Goldberg, Kirnberger, Abel, Krebs, Müthel – Music By Bach's Students	1997	Glossa
29	Carl Friedrich Abel, Georg Friedrich Händel, Thomas Arne, William Boyce, Charles Medlam, London Baroque, Emma Kirkby, Hiro Kurosaki, Nicholas Parle, Richard Gwilt – A Vauxhall Gardens(CD, )	1996	Virgin Veritas
30	Karl Friedrich Abel - Il Fondamento, Paul Dombrecht – Ouvertures & Sinfonias	1994	Vanguard Classics
31	Carl Friedrich Abel, Luigi Boccherini, Antonin Kammel, Ignaz Pleyel, Scheinkvartetten – Scheinkvartetten (The Schein Quartet) Plays 18th-Century Drawing-Room Music(CD, Album)	1994	Proprius
32	Carl Friedrich Abel, Petr Hejný – Six Sonatas for Viola da Gamba	1994	Arta Records
33	Carl Friedrich Abel ‒ The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead – Symphonies Op. 17 Nos 1-6	1994	cpo
34	Carl Friedrich Abel - La Stagione – Chamber Music(CD, Album, Stereo)	1994	cpo
35	Roy Whelden, Carl Friedrich Abel, American Baroque – Galax (Music For Viola Da Gamba)(CD, Album)	1993	New Albion
36	Carl Friedrich Abel, Karl Kaiser, La Stagione, Michael Schneider (2) – 4 Flute Concertos(CD, Album, Stereo)	1993	cpo
37	Wieland Kuijken, Abel • Ortiz • Schenck • Telemann • Simpson • Hume – Viola Da Gamba Solo Recital(CD, )	1993	Denon
38	Carl Friedrich Abel - La Stagione, Michael Schneider (2) – Symphonies Op.10 Nos 1-6(CD, Album, Stereo)	1993	cpo
39	Handel · Abel · Arne · Boyce – Emma Kirkby, London Baroque – A Vauxhall Gardens Entertainment(CD, )	1989	EMI Digital
40	Carl Friedrich Abel, Cantilena, Adrian Shepherd – Six Symphonies Op.7	1988	Chandos
41	Various, Carl Friedrich Abel, Gaetano Donizetti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – "Ночные Серенады". Фестиваль Камерной Музыки "Пицунда-85" Третья пластинка	1986	Мелодия
42	František Sláma, Josef Hála – Slavní Gambisté Minulosti	1982	Supraphon
43	Abel, Boismortier, Leclair, Pachelbel, C. Stamitz, Telemann, Márta Fábián, Imre Kovács Jr., Béla Sztankovits – Baroque Music(LP)	1981	Hungaroton
44	Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach / Karl Friedrich Abel, Thomas Blees, Rheinisches Kammerorchester ∙ Köln, Jan Corazolla – Cellokonzerte(LP)	1981	FSM (2)
45	G.F. Handel, K.F. Abel, J. Ranish, Dr. Arne - Margarette Ashton, Peter Harrison (9), Marjorie Harmer, John Treherne – Music In Eighteenth Century England(LP, Stereo)	1978	Meadway Records
46	Johann Christian Bach, Karl Friedrich Abel, Pierre W. Feit, Trio À Cordes Millière De Paris – Oboenquartette(LP)	1978	His Master's Voice
47	Bengt Ericson, Karin Langebo, Rolf La Fleur, Saint-Saëns, Cassadó, Fauré, Massenet, Kreisler, Tournier, Robinson, Morley, Gibbons, Telemann, Abel – Bengt Ericson Performs Small Pieces For The Romantic Cello & Viola Da Gamba(LP, Stereo)	1977	BIS
48	Danzi / Ritter / Hoffmeister / Crusell / Schneider / Kozeluch / Pleyel / Winter / Abel – Solisten Des Consortium Classicum, Academy Of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Iona Brown – Konzertante Sinfonien	1977	His Master's Voice
49	Franz Xaver Pokorny / Carl Friedrich Abel / Franz Anton Hoffmeister / Theodor von Schacht – Bayern's Schlösser Und Residenzen. Thurn And Taxis	1973	BASF
50	The Rameau Trio - Quantz, Bach, Abel – Music Minus One Flute, Violin Or Recorder(LP)	1971	Music Minus One
51	Roger Bourdin, Ensemble Musical Sinfonia, Jean Witold, Quantz / Abel – La Flute Galante(LP, Album, Stereo)	1969	Disques Vogue
52	Karl Friedrich Abel / François Devienne / Carl Stamitz – Ernst Prappacher, Gerhard Koch (2), Ensemble Baroque D'Heidelberg – Quatuor Avec Flûte En la Majeur / Quatuor Avec Basson En Ut Majeur / Quatuor Avec Hautbois En Mi Bémol Majeur(LP)	1967	Alpha (34)
53	Pachelbel, Telemann, Händel, C. Ph. E. Bach, Abel − Johannes Koch, Hugo Ruf, Heinrich Haferland – Viola De Gamba Y Clavecin	1963	Fidias
54	J.C.Bach, Antonio Rosetti, Carl Friedrich Abel - Consortium Musicum (2), Fritz Lehan – Frühklassische Sinfonien I(LP, Stereo)	-	EMI Electrola
55	Abel, Hume, Marais - Fernando Marín (2) – Magia Consoni Et Dissoni(CD, Album)	-	Da Vinci Classics
56	Carl Friedrich Abel - Gisela Kuhn, Jürgen Kußmaul, Helmut Lissok – Flötenquartett A-Dur(7", 45 RPM, Mono)	-	Da Camera
57	Luigi Boccherini / Carl Friedrich Abel, Albert Kocsis, Wolfgang Stephan, Pierre Feit, Westdeutsche Kammersolisten Köln – Violinkonzert D-dur / Concertante In B(LP)	-	Christophorus
58	Ludwig van Beethoven • Johann Wenth • Johann Christian Bach • Karl Friedrich Abel - Oboentrio Pierre W. Feit • Trio à Cordes Millière de Paris • Marie Christine Millière • Raymond Glatard • Jean-Marie Gamard – Musik auf Villa Hügel(2×LP, Compilation)	-	Musik auf Villa Hügel