Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Baltzar, Thomas

Baltzar, Thomas, was born at Lubeck, and was esteemed the finest performer on the violin of his time. He went to England in the year 1658, and lived about two years in the house of Sir Anthony Cope, of Hanwell, in Oxford-shire. He was the great competitor of Davis Mell, who, though a clockmaker by trade, was, till Baltzar went there, allowed to be the finest performer on the violin in England ; and after his arrival, he divided with him the public applause, it being agreed that Mell excelled in the fineness of his tone and the sweetness of his manner, and Baltzar in the power of execution and command of the instrument. Moreover it is said o~ the latter, that he first taught the English the prac tice of shifting, and the use of the upper part of the finger board. Baltzar was given to .tltem peranco, and is said to have shortened h days by excessive drinking. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, in the year 1663.