Carl Friedrich Zelter facts for kids
Carl Friedrich Zelter (born December 11, 1758 – died May 15, 1832) was a German composer, conductor, and music teacher. He was born and passed away in Berlin. Interestingly, he first worked in his father's bricklaying business and even became a master in that trade. He taught himself music, showing great talent and dedication without formal lessons.
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Zelter's Musical Journey
Carl Friedrich Zelter became good friends with the famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He even set many of Goethe's poems to music. During his life, Zelter wrote around 200 songs, which are called lieder. He also composed longer pieces like cantatas, a concerto for the viola (a string instrument similar to a violin), and music for the piano.
Teaching Famous Musicians
Zelter was a very important teacher. Many talented young musicians studied with him. Some of his most famous students included Felix Mendelssohn and his sister Fanny Mendelssohn. Other notable students were Giacomo Meyerbeer and Otto Nicolai.
Felix Mendelssohn was perhaps Zelter's favorite student. Zelter was very proud of Felix's abilities, even boasting about the 12-year-old's talent to Goethe. Zelter shared his deep love for the music of Johann Sebastian Bach with young Mendelssohn. This was very important because Bach's music was not very well known at the time.
Bringing Bach's Music Back to Life
Thanks to Zelter's influence, Felix Mendelssohn decided to bring Bach's famous "St Matthew Passion" back to life in 1829. This was a huge event that took place at the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, a music academy where Zelter was in charge. This performance was a turning point! It made people realize how amazing Bach's music was, and it led to a big comeback for his works, which had been mostly forgotten.
After Zelter passed away, Mendelssohn hoped to take over his role at the Sing-Akademie. However, the position went to Carl Friedrich Rungenhagen instead.
Personal Life and Legacy
Carl Friedrich Zelter was married twice. His first wife, Sophie Eleonora Flöricke, passed away in 1795. A year later, in 1796, he married Julie Pappritz, who was a well-known singer at the Berlin Opera. Zelter is buried at the Sophienkirche church in Berlin. The famous violinist Daniel Hope, born in 1973, is a direct descendant of Zelter.
Zelter also wrote a biography about another composer named Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch. This book was published in 1801. Later, a novelist named Elizabeth Sara Sheppard even included a character based on Zelter, named Aronach, in her 1853 novel Charles Auchester.
