Zachow, Friedrich Wilhelm 11/14/1663 - 08/07/1712

The German Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (or Zachau, 1663-1712), is renowned as Georg Frideric Handel's master. His father was Stadtmusikus in Leipzig. Under his direction Zachow learned to play on all the instruments then in general use, including violin, hautboy, harpsichord and organ, devoting his chief attention to the last two, on which he attained great proficiency. When about 10 years old the family removed to Eilenburg, between Halle and Leipzig, where he continued his studies.



In 1684 Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow was elected organist of Liebfrauenkirche in Halle. Here it was, if Mainwaring's account is to be trusted, that G.F. Handel was first taken to Zachow for instruction in music 'while he was yet under 7 years of age'; that is to say, some time before the end of 1692 (Chrysander places the event a little later). There can be no doubt that Zachow took great interest in his pupil, who, Mainwaring tells us, 'pleased him so much that he never thought he could do enough for him.' That the child was placed under an excellent and thoroughly conscientious teacher is indeed conclusively proved, both by Mainwaring and Coxe. The former says:



'Zachow had a large collection of Italian as well as German music. He showed his pupil the different styles of different nations; the excellences and defects of each particular author; and, that he might equally advance in the practical part he frequently gave him subjects to work, and made him copy, and play, and compose in his stead. And Zachow was glad of an assistant who, by his uncommon talents, was capable of supplying his place whenever he was inclined to be absent. It may seem strange to talk of an assistant at seven years of age. But it will appear much stranger that by the time he was nine he began to compose the Church Service for voices and instruments, and from that time actually did compose a service every week for three years successively.'



And in confirmation of this account, Coxe describes a volume, formerly in the possession of Lady Rivers, dated 1698, signed G.F.H., and filled with transcripts, in G.F. Handel's handwriting, of airs, fugues, choruses and other works, by Zachow, Frohberger, Krieger, Kerl, Heinrich Alben, Ebnor, Nicolaus Adam Strungk and other composers of the 17th century. G.F. Handel always spoke of his old master with the deepest respect; visited him at Halle for the last time in 1710; and after his death sent frequent remittances to his widow.



The Berlin Library possesses a large collection of Zachow's compositions, consisting principally of manuscripts, church cantatas and pieces for the organ. Some fragments were printed by Chrysander and v. Winterfeld. They are not works of genius, but their style is thoroughly musician-like, and is marked both by good taste and earnestness of purpose. A complete edition of the works of Zachow was brought out in vols. xxi. and xxii. of the D.D.T., edited by Max Seiffert. An interesting Mass, on the theme Christ lag in Todesbanden, is assigned to 'Nikolaus Zachau' in the copy in the Berlin Library. It is accepted as F. W. Zachow's by Seiffert, but its authorship is doubted in Q.-L.



Source: Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1952 Edition, by W.S. Rockstro, revised by Scott Goddard)