Förster Kaspar

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Förster Kaspar

Förster, Kaspar, German composer; b. Danzig (baptized), Feb. 28, 1616; d. Oliva, near Danzig, Feb. 2, 1673. He began his training with his father, the Kapellmeister of the Danzig Marienkirche, and then studied composition with Carissimi in Rome (1633–36). He was a bass singer and choral conductor at the Polish court in Warsaw (c. 1638–43), during which time he also studied with Marco Scacchi. From 1652 to 1655 he was Kapellmeister to King Frederik II of Denmark in Copenhagen. After serving as his father’s successor at the Danzig Marienkirche (1655–57), he resumed his Danish post, retiring in 1667. Förster introduced the Italian style of composition to Danzig and Copenhagen. Among his extant works are 3 oratorios, several sacred vocal concertos, and 6 trio sonatas.

Bibliography

J. Babb, The Sacred Latin Works of K. F. (1616–73) (diss., Univ. of N.C., 1970).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire