Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Abell, John

Abell, John. An English musician, belonging to the Chapel Royal of Charles H. He was a good vocalist, celebrated for a fine counter-tenor voice, and for his skill on the lute. He preserved the natural tone of his voice to extreme old age. In 1701, he published a collection of songs in several languages, which he dedicated to the king. He continued in the chapel till the revolution, when he was discharged as being a Papist. Upon this he went abroad, and at War-saw met with a very extraordinary adventure. He was sent for to court; but evading to go by some slight excuse, was commanded to attend. At the palace, he was seated in a chair, the middle of a spacious hall, and suddenly drawn up to a great height, when the king and his attend-ants appeared in a gallery opposite to him. At the same instant, a number of wild bear, were turned in, when the king bade him choose, whether he would sing or be let down among the bears. Abel chose to sing, and declared afterwards that he never sang so well in his life. He afterwards sang in Holland, and other places in Germany, where he acquired considerable wealth, but squandered away his money, and was afterwards obliged to travel about the country on foot, with his lute slung on his back. In 1701 he published, in London, a collection of songs in several languages. There are two songs by this composer, in the fourth volume of " Pills to purge Melancholy."