Rellstab, Johann Carl Friedrich

Rellstab, Johann Carl Friedrich , German music publisher, writer on music, and composer, father of (Heinrich Friedrich) Ludwig Rellstab; b. Berlin, Feb. 27, 1759; d. there, Aug. 19, 1813. He was a pupil of Agricola and Fasch. He succeeded his father as head of a printing establishment (1779), adding a music printing and publishing dept. and a circulating library of music. He founded and directed amateur concerts from 1787. After losing his property in the war of 1806, he gave music lessons, lectured on harmony, and wrote criticism for the Vossische Zeitung. His compositions, which included a Singspiel, Die Apotheke, cantatas, odes, songs, and piano pieces, are unimportant. His daugher, Caroline Rellstab (b. Berlin, April 18, 1793; d. Breslau, Feb. 17, 1813), was a prominent singer. She was a member of the Breslau Opera (from 1811), particularly noted for her portrayal of the Queen of the Night.

Writings

Versuch über die Vereinigung der musikalischen und oratorischen Declamation, hauptsächlich für Musiker und Com- ponisten mit erläuternden Beyspielen (Berlin, 1786); Anleitung fir Clavierspieler, den Gebrauch der Bach’schen Fingersetzung, die Manieren und den Vortrag betreffend (Berlin, 1790); a polemical pamphlet, über die Bemerkungen eines Reisenden die Berlinischen Kirchenmusiken, Concerte, Oper und kÖnigliche Kümmermusik betreffend (Berlin, 1789).

Bibliography

O. Guttmann, f.K.F. R.: Ein Beitrag zur Musikgeschichte Berlins (Berlin, 1910)

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire