Carl Ferdinand Becker (Composer, Writer)

Born: July 17, 1804 - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
Died: October 26, 1877 - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany

Carl Ferdinand Becker was a German writer, organist and composer. He studied the piano, harmony and composition, under Schicht and Schneider. At an early age played the piano in public, and later devoted more attention to the organ. He held organistships in Leipzig at the Peters-kirche (1825) and Nikolai-kirche (1837). On the foundation of the Conservatorium in Leipzig, he was invited by Felix Mendelssohn to join the new enterprise, and held the post of organ professor there from 1843 to 1856.

In Germany Carl Ferdinand Becker was esteemed most for his writings. Of these mention should be made of the following: Systematisch-chronologische Darstellung der Musiklitteratur; Die Hausmusik in Deutschland im 16, 17, and 18 Jahrhundert; and Die Tonwercke des 16 and 17 Jahrhunderts. His work is valued for its accuracy. He was a skilled bibliographer. Becker's extensive collection of music, which contained many rarities, he bequeathed to the city of Leipzig at his death.

Source: Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1952 Edition, Author: Dr. Franz Gehring); Grande Musica Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2008)

Carl Ferdinand Becker: Short Biography | Arrangements/Transcriptions: Works | Recordings

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Dir, dir Jehovah will ich singen for organ

Dir, dir, Jehova, will ich singen

Links to other Sites

Becker, Carl Ferdinand (Grande Musica)

Bibliography