A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Becker, Carl

by Franz Gehring

BECKER, Carl Ferdinand, organist and professor at the Conservatorium of Leipsic, born in 1804, studied the piano, harmony, and composition, under Schicht and Schneider. Played the piano in public at fourteen years old, but afterwards paid more attention to the organ, and rose by degrees to be organist of the Nicolai-Kirche in Leipsic. On the foundation of the Conservatorium at Leipsic he was invited by Mendelssohn to join the new enterprise. The estimation which Becker enjoyed in Germany was due less to his compositions than to his productions in musical literature. Prominent amongst these are his 'Systematisch-chronologische Darstellung der musik-Literatur,' etc. (1836), with a supplement (1839), in which Becker is said to have been assisted by Anton Schmid, custos of the Hofbibliothek at Vienna. He also wrote 'Hausmusik in Deutschland in 16ten, 17ten, 18ten Jahrh.' (1840); also 'Die Tonwerke des 16ten und 17ten Jahrh.'—a catalogue of the music printed during that period (1847); and a catalogue of his own collection—'Alphabetisch und chronologisch geordnetes Verzeichniss,' etc. (Breitkopf, 1847). The collection itself, containing works of the greatest rarity, he bequeathed to the city of Leipsic at his death Oct. 26, 1877.

[ F. G. ]