Fabricius, Werner

Fabricius, Werner, German organist and composer, father of Johann Albert Fabricius; b. Itzehoe, April 10, 1633; d. Leipzig, Jan. 9, 1679. He began his musical studies with Paul Moth in Flensburg, and at age 12 went to Hamburg to continue his training with Thomas Selle and Heinrich Scheidemann. He then studied law, philosophy, and mathematics at the Univ. of Leipzig. He became organist and director of music at the Paulinerkirche of the Univ. there in 1656, and also was made organist of the city’s Nicolaikirche in 1658. He publ. a treatise on organ building, Unterricht wie man ein neu Orgelwerk in- und auswendig examiniren, und so viel wie moglich probiren soil (Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig, 1656), and well as an instruction manual, Manuductio zum General Bass bestehend aus lauter Excempeln (Leipzig, 1675).

Works

SACRED 100 melodies in E.G. Homburgs geistlicher Lieder erster Theil for 2 Voices and Basso Continue (Jena, 1659); Geistliche Arien, Dialogen, und Goncerten… for 4 to 6 Voices, Basso Continuo, and Instruments (Leipzig, 1662); other works in contemporary collections; also German and Latin motets in MS. INSTRUMENTAL: Deliciae harmonicae oder Musikalische Ergotzung, von allerhand Paduaenen, Alemanden, Couranten, Balletten, Sarabanden von 5 Stimmen, Basso Continuo, Viols or Other Instruments (Leipzig, 1656).

Bibliography

R. Mayer, The Keyboard Tablature by W. F. (diss., Roosevelt Univ., 1972).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire