A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Kiel, Friedrich

KIEL, Friedrich, born Oct. 7, 1821, at Puderbach on the Lahn; son of a schoolmaster, who taught him the pianoforte. At 14 he began the violin under Schulz, Concertmeister to Prince Carl von Wittgenstein-Berleberg, and soon entered the band of the reigning Prince, who sent him first to Kummer at Coburg, and in 1843 to Dehn at Berlin. While there he received a salary from King Frederic William IV. His first compositions were for the pianoforte, 'Canons und Fugen' op. 1 and 2; variations and fugue, op. 17; and several pieces for P.F. and cello, of which the 'Reisebilder' are specially interesting. In 62 his Requiem (op. 20), a very remarkable work, was performed by Stern's Choral Society—also by the University Musical Society of Cambridge, May 21, 1878. In 66 he composed a 'Missa Solemnis,' and in 74 an oratorio 'Christus.' He has been a member of the council of the Berlin Academic der Künste since 1869, and is professor of composition in the Hochschule für Musik, in which capacity he is much esteemed. Kiel is one of the most distinguished living masters of counterpoint and fugue, and as such forms one of the race of musicians of whom the late Moritz Hauptmann may be considered the chief. His compositions are of the sound classical school, tempered with a due regard for the best modern tendencies. [App. p.690 "Add date of death, Sept. 14, 1885."]

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