Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 206
Scan 206
the history of the violin, 1864
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 184. See the scan on archive.org.
1cello of his time, his tone especially was remarkably fine and powerful, and Mr. Parke, in his "Musical Memoirs," mentions having heard him play the favourite minuet in "Ariadne," in three parts, as distinctly and perfectly as if they had been performed by three of the most distinguished players. He retired in 1794, having ample means. John George Christopher Schetky, born near Frankfort-on-the-Maine, about the year 1740, of good family, was originally intended for the law, and was sent to the University of Jena, but did not prosecute the study, and in the course of the Seven Years' War, under Frederick the Great, from 1756 to 1763 served as a volunteer, and the celebrated Blucher was the captain of his company. Being passionately fond of music, he followed the bent of his inclination, and studied both theoretically and practically under Emanuel Bach, and also under Schroeder for the pianoforte. The violoncello being his favourite instrument, he took some lessons from Abel (the celebrated performer on the viol da gamba), under whom he soon became a proficient. After travelling for several years in Germany and France, he determined to visit England, wishing to be present at the coronation of George the Third, but was prevented by illness. However, he arrived soon afterwards in London, and not intending to settle there, was about to return to Germany, when he obtained an engagement as first violoncellist for the Edinburgh Saint Cecilia Concerts, which were then of great repute. They were very aristocratic, many amateurs of rank and station being members, including several of the nobility, and men eminent in the learned professions. The leading professors were also of first-rate talent. These concerts flourished until the Peace of Amiens, when the facilities given for travelling on the Continent induced many people of station to go abroad, and they were thus broken
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