Johann Balthasar Christian Freislich

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Born: March 1687 (baptised: March 30, 1687) - Immelborn, near Bad Salzungen, Germany Died: 1764 - Danzig [now Gdańsk], Germany Johann Balthasar Christian Freißlich [Freislich, Fraißlich] was a German composer, half-brother of Maximilian dietrich Freisslich In 1719 or 1720 he became director of the Hofkapelle in Sondershausen, where he wrote a St Matthew Passion (performed in 1720 at St John, Danzig), a cycle of cantatas and a short opera. He was sent to Dresden for a year by his employer, Prince Günther Schwarzburg. He went to Danzig about 1730 and in 1731, on the death of his half-brother Maximilian, he became Kapellmeister at St Mary, remaining in that position to the end of his life. As a prolific composer and a skilful Kapellmeister, Johann Balthasar Christian Freisslich played an important role in the city’s cultural life. Many of his compositions were connected with notable anniversaries, such as the 300th of the city's freedom from the Teutonic Knights, the 100th of the Peace of Oliva, and others at the Gymnasium Dantiscanum. He also wrote several cantatas (1733, 1755, 1763) connected with the Polish kings August II and III, and numerous cantatas on the appointments of teachers, the election of members of the town council, and for weddings and burials of eminent citizens. His music has been praised for its warmth and fluency, its accomplished imitative writing and its wide-ranging coloratura (even in bass parts); the lyrical style suggests Italian influence. User-co

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