Becker, Dietrich

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Becker, Dietrich

Becker, Dietrich, German violinist, organist, and composer; b. Hamburg, 1623; d. there, 1679. He began his career as an organist in Ahrensburg, Holstein (1645), and subsequently was active as a violinist in Hamburg. In 1658 he became violinist at the court chapel in Celle. In 1662 he was appointed court violinist in Hamburg. He was named director of the Court Orch. in 1667 and appointed director of music at the Hamburg Cathedral in 1674.

Works

Musicalische Frühlings-Früchte for 3 to 5 Instruments and Basso Continuo (Hamburg, 1668; 2nd ed., 1673); Erster Theil...Sonateti und Suiten for 2 Violins and Basso Continuo (Hamburg, 1674); Trauer-undBegrabnüss-Musik for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Violin, Bassoon, 3 Viole da Braccio, and Basso Continuo (Glückstadt, 1678); Ander Theil...Sonaten und Suiten for 2 Violins and Basso Continuo (Hamburg, 1679); also sacred choral music and songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire