Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Abel, J. E.

Abel, J. E., was born in 1795, at Ludwigslust, the residence of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, where his father, a nephew of C. F. Abel, resided upwards of fifty years, being a member of the household band of that prince. J. E. Abel was, from his earliest infancy, together with an elder brother, destined for the profession of music, and enjoyed, to that effect, the most zealous instruction from his father, who was a good violinist. Abel began his studies on the piano and violin when he was but five years old. During a period of four years, six hours daily were devoted to the practice of both instruments ; and his father used to excite the youthful ambition of his sons by frequently holding out to them the view of their granduncle's fame. At the expiration of the above period, J. E. Abel, being then nine years old, played with his brother, before a party of able judges, who were so surprised at the attainments of the children, that several of them voluntarily offered their professional assistance towards the further education o the young performers. After receiving the promised instructions from these professors (some of whom were eminent) during the space of about two year, the sons commenced a musical excursion with their father, who intended that they should perform in public, in different parts of the north of Germany. This plan, however, from various invidious and other motives, did not succeed in a pecuniary point of view ; which so disappointed the father, that he decided to change the profession of his sons, destining J. E. Abel for the church, and his brother for mercantile life. In the course of his studies for divinity, J. E. Abel always found time, however, to persevere in his musical pursuits : he now changed the violin for the violoncello, and took lessons of Xavier Himmer, first violoncellist of the grand duke's household band, and a very superior performer. When seventeen year, of age, J. E. Abel was offered. the situation of instructor in the fine arts to the children of a German count, for which occupation he was thought more particularly qualified, as he painted well in miniature. Here he remained during three years, when he was suddenly seized with a most painful disease, (the tic douloureux,) that defied the power of medicine during two years, and at length made him resolve to migrate to a warmer climate, which he had a good opportunity of doing, as his brother had previously quitted his commercial pursuits, and established himself in the musical profession at Savannah, Ga., in the United States. In the year 1819, having received a pressing invitation from his brother, he em-barked at Hamburg for America, and had the happiness to find his disease give way on the very first touch of the American soil. After a fee months' residence, however, at Savannah, the climate brought on so complete a constitutional decay, that he was again obliged to quit America, and embarked for Liverpool, where he arrived in a state of great weakness, in September, 1820. He nest proceeded to London, where, by a singular coincidence, he was introduced to J. B. Cramer, while this great master was just correcting the proofs of a publication in grateful memory of C. F. Abel, and as a vindication of his early studies in counterpoint under that master. That, under such circumstances, the nephew of an honored master should come more strongly recommended to such a pupil, and that he consequently met the kindest reception from Mr. Cramer, will appear natural to every one who knows the character for generosity borne by the great pianist. In short, the instructive guidance and continued friendly patronage of J. B. Cramer and Graeff (another celebrated pupil of C. J. Abel) afforded J. E. Abel the first inducement to, and surest foundation of, his professional life in London, as teacher of the piano and violoncello. J. E. Abel has published a few compositions for the piano.