Bähr, (Franz) Josef

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Bähr, (Franz) Josef

Bähr, (Franz) Josef, noted Austrian clarinetist; b. Feb. 19, 1770; d. Vienna, Aug. 7, 1819. He was in the service of Prince Kraft Ernst of Oettingen-Wallerstein (1787–94). He settled in Vienna in 1797, and then became a court musician in the service of Count Johann Joseph Liechtenstein. Beethoven was impressed by his talent, and during the period 1796-1802 wrote his major solo clarinet parts with Bahr in mind.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire