A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Adlung, Jacob

by Carl Ferdinand Pohl

ADLUNG, Jacob, born at Bindersleben, Erfurt, Jan. 14, 1699; a theologian, scholar, and musician. His taste for music came late; the clavier, organ, and theory, he learned from Christian Reichardt the organist, who though not a musician of the first rank was truly devoted to his art. After the death of Buttstett in 1727 Adlung received his post as organist of the Evangelical church, where he was soon known for his masterly playing, and in 1741 became professor at the Rathsgymnasium of Erfurt. In 1736 his house and all his possessions were burnt, but the undaunted man was not discouraged. He taught both music and Language, wrote largely and well on music, and even constructed instruments with his own hands; and thus made a successful resistance to adverse fortune till his death, July 5, 1762. Three of his works are of lasting value in musical literature: (1) 'Anleitung zur musik. Gelahrtheit,' with a preface by Joh. Ernst Bach (Erfurt, 1758); a 2nd edition, issued after his death, by J. A. Hiller (Leipsic, 1783). (2) 'Musica mechanica Organœdi,' etc. (Berlin, 1768), a treatise in two volumes on the structure, use, and maintenance of the organ and clavi-cymbalum. This contains additions by J. F. Agricola and J. L. Albrecht, a translation by the former of a treatise on the organ by Bedos de Celles, and an autobiography of Adlung. (3) 'Musikalisches Siebengestirn' (Berlin, 1768). (See Hiller's Lebensb. ber. Musikgelehrten.)

[ C. F. P. ]