ABEL, CARL FRIEDRICH

born Dec. 22, 1723, Kthen, duchy of Anhalt-Kthen died June 20, 1787, London, Eng. symphonist of the pre-Classical school and one of the last virtuosos of the viola da gamba. After playing in the Dresden court orchestra (1743-58), Abel went to London in 1759 and became chamber musician to Queen Charlotte in 1764. When J.C. Bach arrived in London in 1762, they became friends and in 1765 established the "Bach and Abel" concerts that included the first public performances in England of Joseph Haydn's symphonies. Abel wrote 23 symphonies, one of which, the so-called Kchel 18, was long attributed wrongly to the youthful W.A. Mozart.