Franz Abt

It is at this time that he began to compose and publish music, mostly works for the piano which were written for performance in Leipzig's salons.

In 1841 Abt became kapellmeister at Bernburg, then moved to Zürich in the same year where he became an immensely popular and skilled choirmaster, often conducting his own compositions.

He was also frequently invited to conduct choirs in many capital cities of Europe during the 1850s through the 1880s, having at this point developed an international reputation.

Abt was also successful in writing choral music for mixed choruses both a cappella and with either piano or orchestral accompianement.

[3] Abt's compositional style betrays an easy fluency of invention, couched in pleasing popular forms, but without pretence to depth or individuality.

In the early part of his life Abt composed much for the piano, chiefly pieces of light salon character.