A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Agricola, Johann Friedrich

by Franz Gehring

AGRICOLA, Johann Friedrich, born Jan. 4, 1720, at Dobitschen, Altenburg, Saxony. His father was a judge, and his mother, Maria Magdalen Manke, from Giebrichenstein near Halle, was a friend of the great Handel. He began to learn music in his fifth year under a certain Martini. In 1738 he entered the University of Leipsic when Gottsched was Professor of Rhetoric. But though he went through the regular course of 'humanities' he also studied music under Sebastian Bach, with whom he worked hard for three years. After this he resided at Dresden and Berlin, and studied the dramatic style under Graun and Hasse. In 1749 he published two pamphlets on French and Italian taste in music under the pseudonym of Olibrio. In the following year a cantata of his, 'Il Filosofo convinto in amore,' was performed before Frederic the Great, and made such an impression on the king as to induce him to confer on Agricola the post of Hof-componist. He had an equal success with a second cantata, 'La Ricamatrice.' Agricola then married Signora Molteni, prima donna of the Berlin opera, and composed various operas for Dresden and Berlin, as well as much music for the Church and many arrangements of the king's melodies. After the death of Graun (Aug. 8, 1759) he was made director of the royal chapel; but without the title of 'kapellmeister.' There he remained till his death in 1774—Nov. 12 (Forkel) or Dec. 1 (Schneider, Hist. of Berlin Opera). Agricola's compositions had no permanent success, nor were any printed excepting a psalm and some chorals. He had the reputation of being the best organ-player in Berlin, and a good teacher of singing. He translated with much skill Tosi's 'Opinioni de' Cantori,' and made some additions of value to Adlung's 'Musica mechanica organœdi.'

[ F. G. ]