Christian Kramer
Encyclopedia
Christian Kramer was a composer, arranger, musician and Master of the King's Musick
between 1829 and 1834. He served under two British kings; George IV
and William IV
.
Kramer was born in Hannover and was a pupil of Romantic composer Peter Winter
. He became a court musician, eventually rising to lead George IV's personal orchestra ("band") which, according to Dwight's Journal of Music was "in its time acknowledged to be one of the best in Europe". Notably, many of the musicians in his band were sourced from Germany. John Dwight goes on to note that he could play all of the instruments in his orchestra to a remarkable degree. A Dictionary of Musical Information of 1876 notes that he was "a composer of great ability", although none of his compositions have remained in the repertoire. He was apparently on good terms with the king; according to one account, like George IV, Kramer suffered from gout
and was often inquired of by his master "after a simultaneous attack".
Master of the Queen's Music
Master of the Queen's Music is a post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The holder of the post originally served the monarch of England.The post is roughly comparable to that of Poet Laureate...
between 1829 and 1834. He served under two British kings; George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
and William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
.
Kramer was born in Hannover and was a pupil of Romantic composer Peter Winter
Peter Winter
Peter Winter was a German opera composer who followed Mozart and preceded Weber, acting as a bridge between the two in the development of German opera....
. He became a court musician, eventually rising to lead George IV's personal orchestra ("band") which, according to Dwight's Journal of Music was "in its time acknowledged to be one of the best in Europe". Notably, many of the musicians in his band were sourced from Germany. John Dwight goes on to note that he could play all of the instruments in his orchestra to a remarkable degree. A Dictionary of Musical Information of 1876 notes that he was "a composer of great ability", although none of his compositions have remained in the repertoire. He was apparently on good terms with the king; according to one account, like George IV, Kramer suffered from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and was often inquired of by his master "after a simultaneous attack".