Himmel, Friedrich Heinrich

1765-1814

Born at Treuenbriezen, Brandenburg. Though he gave some time to the cultivation of music, he was educated at Halle for the church. When Frederick William II. heard him play upon the piano he encouraged and aided his further musical study. He studied for three years with Naumann, and at the end of that time returned to Berlin, where by his compositions he again won the esteem of the King, who made him his chambercomposer, and gave him two years' study in Italy. In 1795 he returned to assume the duties of chapelmaster at Berlin. He visited Stockholm and St. Petersburg, where the Emperor commissioned him to write an opera, Alessandro; lived a while at Riga, and in 1800 returned to Berlin. His works include many songs which were popular in his day; several operas, Fanchon, perhaps, best known of them; an oratorio; a cantata; a mass; vespers; a concerto; and sonatas.