Schwencke, Johann Friedrich

1792-1852

 

Elder brother of preceding; born at Hamburg. Studied violoncello under Prell and Romberg and harmony and composition under his father. He was also a good clarinettist, but later he devoted himself to studying the organ, and was appointed organist of St. Nicholas's Church. He was a prolific composer, having written over five hundred preludes and postludes; a septet; a quintet; and vocal quartets; harmonized about one thousand chorales and seventy-three Russian folk-songs; instrumented Beethoven's cantata, Adelaide; and arranged many of the works of Mozart, Spohr, and others for piano. His most important work is the Choralbuch zum Gesangbuche, containing all the songs sung in Hamburg. In 1836 he had J. G. Schultz build a double piano at which four could play at once.