August Ferdinand Anacker Explained

August Ferdinand Anacker (17 October 1790 – 21 August 1854) was a German composer.

Anacker, the son of a poor shoemaker, was born in Freiberg, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire. He attended the Gymnasium in Freiberg before going to Leipzig in 1813 to study music with Johann Gottfried Schicht and Friedrich Schneider. In 1822, he became a cantor and conductor in his hometown, where he distinguished himself as a teacher and composer, establishing and managing a number of musical institutions in a career spanning several decades. He died in Freiberg.^{[1] [2]}

Of his many compositions for voice and instrumental accompaniment, the cantata Der Bergmannsgruß enjoyed the greatest popularity,^[3] notably including 13 Russian horns.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Arrey von Dommer: "Anacker, August Ferdinand". In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 1, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1875, p. 419 (online version)
2. Walter Hüttel: "Anacker, August Ferdinand". In: Ludwig Finscher (ed.): Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Zweite Ausgabe, Personenteil, Band 1 (Aagard – Baez). Bärenreiter/Metzler, Kassel et al. 1999, (online version - subscription required for full access)
3. Werner Kaden: "August Ferdinand Anacker – nicht nur „Bergsänger“". In: Götz Altmann / Rainer Gebhardt (eds.): Persönlichkeiten des Montanwesens im sächsisch-böhmischen Erzgebirge. Annaberg-Buchholz, Schneeberg, 2003, pp. 49–64.
4. Curt Sachs: "Russische Hörner" in Real-Lexikon der Musikinstrumente, Julius Bard: Berlin, 1913, p. 326, col. a