Johann Adam Birkenstock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007)

Johann Adam Birkenstock (February 1, 1687 - February 26, 1733) was a German composer and violinist. He was regarded as one of the foremost violinists in his days.

[edit] Life

As a young boy, Birkenstock studied with Ruggiero Fedeli in Kassel, but he was soon sent to Berlin to engage in additional studies with Jean Baptiste Volumier. After that Birkenstock went to Bayreuth to study with Fiorelli. In 1708 he completed his studies with Francois Duval in Paris. Upon his return to Kassel, he became a member of the kapelle in 1708 where he stayed until 1722 when he embarked on a concert tour to Holland. There, Birkenstock was offered a post in the retinue of the King of Portugal. He turned down the offer and after his return to Kassel he was appointed Konzertmeister of the local chapel in 1725. When the Landgrave of Kassel died in 1730, Birkenstock moved to Eisenach where he became the Kapellmeister of the court.