Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Anderson, George Frederic

Anderson, George Frederic, husband of the preceding, and professor of the violin and piano-forte, was born at Carlton Palace in the year 1795. He was a pupil of Wiechsell. Anderson for many years played at the Opera, Ancient, and Philharmonic Concerts, of which last society he was an associate. He was also musician in ordinary to his majesty.

ANDR�, JOHN, was born at Offenbach, in 1741. He was first intended for trade by his friends, who had a silk manufactory in that town. Andre was not regularly taught music, though he had a great taste for it ; all the instruction he obtained in that art, till the age of twelve, was from one of his little companions, who went to Frankfort to take lessons on the violin, which he repeated to Andre. In this way he improved much : he soon afterwards taught himself the harpsichord and the rudiments of composition. Till the age of twenty, Andre had only composed a few songs; but being at Frankfort about the year 1760, he heard the French and Italian comic operas there, which determined him to attempt composition for the theatre. His first work of this description was the little opera called "The Porter," which was played at Frankfort, and pleased the public by its gayety and simplicity. He next composed Goethe's "Erwin and Elmira," which also succeeded. In a short time these two pieces were performed at Berlin, and were so successful that their author was sent for to compose for the theatre of that metropolis ; where also he followed up his studies in composition under the direction of the celebrated Marpurg. Andre continued at Berlin for several years, and composed many operas; he afterwards returned to Offenbach, where he had previously established a large music warehouse. This was one of the most famous of its kind in Europe. He directed all departments of the work in per-son, and employed more than fifty workmen. He died in 1799. His compositions consist of more than twenty operas, including music to the tragedies of Macbeth and King Lear ; three sonatas for the piano-forte, violin, and violoncello ; songs with quartet accompaniment; Burger's "Leonora," a romance for the piano-forte, which went through five editions, &c. His style, says M. F�tis, is not remarkable for novelty of ideas or harmony, hut his melodies have a natural grace and gayety.