Zarth (also Czard, Czarth, Szarth, Tzarth, Zardt), Georg

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Zarth (also Czard, Czarth, Szarth, Tzarth, Zardt), Georg

Zarth (also Czard, Czarth, Szarth, Tzarth, Zardt), Georg , Bohemian violinist and composer; b. Hochtann, near Deutschbrod, April 8, 1708; d. probably in Mannheim, after 1778. He first studied with Lukas Lorenz in Deutschbrod, then received training in violin from R Trimmer and J. Rosetter and in flute from Biarelli in Vienna, where he became a friend of Franz Benda, with whom he remained professionally associated for some 20 years. In 1729 he went to Poland, and about 1731 he entered the service of the royal chapel in Warsaw. In 1733 he became a musician in the Dresden Court Orch., entering the service of the crown prince (later Friedrich II the Great of Prussia) in Ruppin in 1734. He moved with his patron to Rheinsberg in 1736, and then to Berlin in 1740 when Friedrich became king. Zarth went in 1757-58 to Mannheim, where he was a member of the Court Orch. until 1778. He publ. 6 sonates for Violin and Basso Continuo, op.2 (Paris, c. 1750; not extant). Several sonatas and trios are in MS.

—Nicholas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire