(Encyclopedia) Peter II, 1715–30, czar of Russia (1727–30). A grandson of Peter I and the son of the czarevich Alexis, he succeeded on the death of Catherine I. He was too young to rule, but he…
(Encyclopedia) Schweitzer, AlbertSchweitzer, Albertälˈbĕrt shvīˈtsər [key], 1875–1965, Alsatian theologian, musician, and medical missionary. Determined to become a medical missionary, he obtained a…
(Encyclopedia) Franz, RobertFranz, Robertrōˈbĕrt fränts [key], 1815–92, German composer of about 350 lieder, intimate songs, usually in strophic form. The first of them (pub. 1843) drew warm praise…
(Encyclopedia) Kuhnau, JohannKuhnau, Johannyōˈhän k&oomacr;ˈnou [key], 1660–1722, German composer and performer. Kuhnau was J. S. Bach's predecessor as organist and cantor at St. Thomas Church in…
(Encyclopedia) Bennett, Sir William Sterndale, 1816–75, English musician. Bennett was a friend of Mendelssohn and Schumann, both of whom influenced his work. Besides composing, he was active as a…
(Encyclopedia) jig, dance of English origin that is performed also in Ireland and Scotland. It is usually a lively dance, performed by one or more persons, with quick and irregular steps. When the…
(Encyclopedia) Albinoni, TomasoAlbinoni, Tomasoälbēnôˈnē [key], 1671–1751, Italian violinist and composer. He wrote more than 50 operas, 40 cantatas, and instrumental works of many kinds. His…
(Encyclopedia) gavottegavottegəvŏtˈ [key], originally a peasant dance of the Gavots in upper Dauphiné, France. A type of circle dance characterized by lively, skipping steps, it was introduced at the…
(Encyclopedia) Sweelinck, Jan PieterszoonSweelinck, Jan Pieterszoonyän pēˈtərsōn swāˈlĭngk [key], 1562–1621, Dutch organist and composer, called the “maker of German organists” because the succession…
(Encyclopedia) cantatacantatakəntäˈtə [key] [Ital.,=sung], composite musical form similar to a short unacted opera or brief oratorio, developed in Italy in the baroque period. The term was first used…
