Tausch, Franz

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Tausch, Franz

Tausch, Franz (Wilhelm), celebrated German clarinetist, basset-horn player, and composer; b. Heidelberg, Dec. 26, 1762; d. Berlin, Feb. 9, 1817. He studied with his father, a member of the Mannheim Court Orch. He joined that orch. when he was only 8, then played in the Munich Court Orch. (1777-89), establishing himself as an outstanding virtuoso. In 1789 he went to Berlin as a member of the Court Orch. There he founded a school for wind players in 1805, and among his pupils were Heinrich Barmann and Bernhard Crusell. He wrote several clarinet concertos, 3 concertantes for 2 Clarinets, Andante and Polonaise for Clarinet, clarinet duos, trios for 2 Clarinets with Bassoon, 6 quartets for 2 Basset Horns and 2 Bassoons (with 2 Horns ad libitum), 6 military marches, etc.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire