Ignaz Komorowski, born on February 24, 1824, at Warsaw, belonged for many years to the theatre orchestra there, after which he benefited by the instruction of Adam Hermann, the father. As a composer he attained great popularity in his native land by his charming songs, full of poetical sentiment. He died on October 14, 1857.
Stanislaus Thalgrün, of German descent, was born on August 16, 1843, at Warsaw, and is member of the theatre orchestra in his own country.
Boleslaw Moniuszko, born on October 25, 1845, son of the well-known Polish composer Moniuszko, belongs at the present time to the Warsaw Theatre orchestra.
Finally, Sigismund Kontski settled in St. Petersburg, after having finished his training under Hermann.
In chronological order, after Hermann (senior), follows Samuel Kossowski, born in Galicia in 1805. He was almost entirely self-taught and, notwithstanding, reached a high degree as a virtuoso on the Violoncello. During the years 1842-1852 he performed at concerts, with success, in Vienna, Berlin, Warsaw, Kiev, &c. He died in 1851 at Kobryn, in the province of Grodno.
Joseph Szablinski, born on June 18, 1809, at Warsaw, was employed as first Cellist at the Imperial Theatre for more than forty years. He was distinguished for his fine tone and pure musical rendering. He was especially famous as a quartet player.
Stanislaus Szczepanowski, born, 1814, at Cracow, was so accomplished as a Violoncello and Guitar player that during the year 1839 he was able to present himself as a Concert-giver with unusual success on both instruments in France and England. He was also favourably heard in Berlin. He died in 1875.
Moritz Karasowski, born on September 22,[141] 1823, at Warsaw, was a pupil of Valentin Kratzer, at that time director of music there, for Violoncello and Piano playing, and was, in 1852, member of the Warsaw Theatre orchestra. In the years 1858 and 1860 he travelled for the sake of study and visited Berlin, Vienna, Dresden, Munich, Cologne, and Paris. Since 1864 he has belonged to the Dresden band as Royal Chamber Musician. Besides some compositions for the voice and Violoncello with piano accompaniment, of which “Rêverie du soir,” a Nocturne, and an Elegy are the most important, he published several books in the Polish language—as, for example: “A History of the Polish Opera” (1859), “Haydn’s and Mozart’s Life” (1860 and 1868), “Chopin’s Youth” (Part I. in 1862, Part II. in 1869), and Biographical Sketches of Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, and Edmund Kretschmer. His most important work in musical literature is “Friedrich Chopin: his Life, his Works, and his Letters.” A German translation of the latter appeared in 1877 which went through two revised and enlarged editions.
Johann Karlowicz, born on May 28, 1836, in Lithuania, received his training as Cellist from Julius Lyko in Wilna, Göbella in Moscow, Sebastian Lee, finally from Servais also in Brussels. For some years he assisted in the instruction at Warsaw Conservatoire. In his native land Karlowicz enjoys the reputation of a learned linguist.