A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Christmann, Johann

CHRISTMANN, Johann Friedrich, born at Ludwigsburg 1752, died there 1817; Lutheran clergyman, composer, pianist, flutist, and writer on the theory of music. He was educated at Tübingen, and in 1783 was appointed minister in his native town. His great work 'Elementarbuch der Tonkunst' is in two parts (Spire, 1782 and 1790) with a book of examples. He was joint editor of the Spire 'Musikalische Zeitung'; in which among other articles of interest he detailed a plan (Feb. 1789) for a general Dictionary of music. This scheme was never carried out. He was also a contributor to the Musikalische Zeitung of Leipsic. Christmann composed for piano, violin, and flute, and with Knecht arranged and edited a valuable collection for the Duchy of Würtemberg, entitled 'Vollständige Sammlung … Choral-melodien.' Many of the 318 hymns were his own composition. He was a friend of the Abbé Vogler.

[ M. C. C. ]