ABENHEIM, JOSEPH:
Violinist and orchestra leader; born at Worms in 1804; died Jan. 18, 1891, at Stuttgart. He received his first musical instruction from Schlösser, and in his early youth joined an orchestra at Mannheim. In 1825 he became a member of the royal orchestras at Stuttgart, playing both at the palace and at the theater. After a sojourn in Paris and some further study under Reicha, Abenheim returned to Stuttgart, where he often replaced the official leader Lindpaintner. In 1854 he was put at the head of the orchestra. It was he who directed the so-called vaudeville performance given by members of the royal family and the nobility.
Abenheim composed many songs and pieces, among which were two "Nocturnes," "Polonaise," "Songs without Words," a hymn, "Der Deutsche Rhein"; also several overtures and ballets, as well as the music for the drama "Hariadan," which was produced at Stuttgart in 1842. Very few of his compositions have, however, been published.
- Jüd. Athenäum, s.v., Grimma and Leipsic, 1851;
- Champlin-Apthorp, Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, s.v., New York, 1893;
- Riemann, Musik-Lexikon, s.v., Leipsic, 1900.
