Charles Wels Explained

Charles Wels (August 24, 1825 in Prague – May 12, 1906 in New York City)^[1] was an American pianist, organist, composer, and music teacher. He studied under Václav Tomášek before relocating to the US. In the US he produced piano compositions and a funeral march for Abraham Lincoln.^[2] (The Library of Congress has scanned in 60 compositions by Wels into its American Memory collection.)

He was briefly a Polish court-musician from 1847 to 1849.^[3] In the 1860s he was organist at Christ Church of New York.^[4]

His pupils included Samuel Brenton Whitney.

Notes and References

1. Web site: VIAF/LOC, from Baker's and Altmann. 6 March 2011.
2. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/lprbscsm.scsm0199 Library of Congress
3. Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol.6, 1920 American Supplement, page 28.
4. Web site: 'Wel's church music. A collection of sentences, chants, hymn-tunes and anthems, original or arranged by Charles Wels, organist of Christ Church, New York', published in 1864. 1864. Mason Brothers. March 10, 2012.