Christian Ferdinand Abel

Christian Ferdinand Abel (July or August 1682, Hanover, Holy Roman Empire – buried 3 April 1761 (or 1737?

), Köthen, Holy Roman Empire) was one of the most famous German Baroque violinists, cellists and especially viol virtuosos.

For some time Christian served in the Swedish army of Charles XII during the occupation of northern Germany.

With several of his colleagues he moved to Köthen to work at the court there as a violinist and gambist under Augustin Reinhard Stricker.

It is believed that Bach composed his three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord BWV 1027-1029 probably for Abel to teach Leopold to play the viol.