Kollmann, Augustus Frederic Christopher(actually, August Friedrich Christoph)

Kollmann, Augustus Frederic Christopher(actually, August Friedrich Christoph), German-born English organist, music theorist, and composer; b. Engelbostel, March 21, 1756; d. London, April 19, 1829. He studied with Böttner, the Hannover organist. He was made organist and schoolmaster of Kloster Lune, near Lüneburg (1781). Soon after, he went to London, where he served as organist and schoolmaster of the Royal German Chapel in St. James’s (1782–1829); was also chapel-keeper(1784-1829). Among his practical works are 4 Sonatas for Harpsichord or Piano and Violin (1788), The Shipwreck for Piano, Violin, and Cello (1796), Piano Concerto (1804), and The Praise of God, oratorio (1817). He also composed a number of theoretico-practical works, including A Symphony [for Piano, Violin, and Cello] with Analytical Explanations, “Analyzed Sym.” (1798), The Melody of the Hundredth Psalm, with Examples and Directions for an Hundred Different Harmonies for 4 Voices (1809), and An Introduction to Extemporary Modulation, in Six General Lessons for Piano, Harp, Violin, or Cello (1820).

Writings

An Essay on Musical Harmony (1796; 2^nd ed., 1817); An Essay on Practical Musical Composition (1799; 2^nd ed., rev., 1812; reprint,1973; A Practical Guide to Thorough-Bass (1801); A New Theory of Musical Harmony (1806; 2^nd ed., rev., 1823); A Second Practical Guide to Thorough- Bass (1807).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire