[Born at Berlin, 1758. Died 1832. Aged 74.]
The son of a master mason, whose trade he followed. Forsaking masonry
for music, he became the pupil of Fasch, at whose death he was appointed
Director of the Royal Institute of Music, and Professor of music in the
Academy of Fine Arts at Berlin. Zelter’s works are chiefly songs and
compositions for men’s voices, without accompaniment. He also wrote on
the theory of music. He will be chiefly remembered as the friend and
correspondent of Goethe, and the early instructor of Mendelssohn.
[By Rauch, March, 1825. Modelled as a present from the sculptor to
Goethe, the friend of Zelter. The Academy of Music had it executed in
marble for their institution, Rauch again charging nothing for his
services.]