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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christoph Nichelmann (13 August 1717 – 20 July 1762) was a German composer and harpsichordist. He was second keyboard player in the Royal Ensemble of Frederick the Great.
Born in Treuenbrietzen, from 1730 on the advice of a relative Nichelmann attended the Thomasschule in Leipzig, where he was accepted by Johann Sebastian Bach. He studied composition with Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and learned to play the piano. In 1733, because of his interest in opera, he went to Hamburg to explore theatrical music in the French and Italian style. There he was a student of Reinhard Keiser, Georg Philipp Telemann and Johann Mattheson. At times he worked as a private secretary for musicians and noble families.
In 1739 Nichelmann moved to Berlin, where he continued his studies with Johann Joachim Quantz and Carl Heinrich Graun. In 1742, he decided to travel to England and France, returning to Hamburg two years later. An offer of King Frederick the Great of Prussia brought him again to Berlin, where in 1744 he became the second harpsichordist of the royal operatic ensemble, ("zweiter Cembalist der königl. Operncapelle") to accompany the king who played the flute. He retained this position until 1756. From then on he had to support himself by giving private lessons. Nichelmann's last years were made difficult by the Seven Years' War. He died in Berlin.
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