Fischer, Johann

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Fischer, Johann

Fischer, Johann, German violinist and composer;b. Augsburg, Sept. 25, 1646; d. Schwedt, Pomerania, 1716 or 1717. After studies with Tobias Kiregsdorfer in Augsburg, and then with Samuel Capricornus in Stuttgart (1661–65), he worked as a copyist for Lully in Paris. From 1674 to 1683 he was a church musician in Augsburg, and then a violinist at the Ansbach court chapel (1683–86) and the Mitau court (1690–97). After extensive travels, he was made Konzertmeister at the Schwerin court in 1701. He spent his last years as Kapellmeister to the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Fischer was one of the earliest advocates of scordatura tunings. He was an especially fine composer of chamber music, in which he championed the French style.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Fischer, Johann

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