Beer, (Johann) Joseph

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Beer, (Johann) Joseph

Beer, (Johann) Joseph, Bohemian clarinetist and composer; b. Grünewald, May 18, 1744; d. Berlin, Oct. 28, 1812. He began his career as a trumpeter. From 1767 to 1777 he was in the service of the Duke of Orléans as a clarinetist. After touring Europe extensively as a virtuoso from 1779, he was active as a chamber musician at the courts in St. Petersburg (1782–92) and Berlin (from 1792). Beer improved the clarinet by adding a fifth key. He also wrote various works for the instrument.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire