Graun, Johann Gottlieb

About 1698-1771

Eminent German violinist, conductor and composer; born at Wahrenbruck, a brother of Karl Heinrich. He attended the Kreuzschule, studying violin under Pisendel, and afterward under Tartini at Padua. He first played in the Dresden band, leaving it in 1726 to become a concertmaster at Merseburg, where he was the teacher of Friedemann Bach. In 1728 he was orchestra conductor at Rheinsberg to Frederick the Great, then the Crown Prince, and on Frederick's accession to the Prussian throne, in 1740, was made leader of the Royal band at Berlin, the playing of which he brought to a high standard. He died at Berlin. His works were chiefly instrumental, including forty symphonies, twenty violin concertos, twenty-four string quartets, and other chamber-music, of which, however, but little was published.