Friedrich August Kummer (5 August 1797 – 22 August 1879), born in Meiningen, Germany, was a violoncellist, pedagogue, and composer.
Childhood and education
As a child, his family moved to Dresden on an invitation by the court chapel to his father, an oboist. Kummer, initially an oboist, took an interest in the violoncello and studied with notable performers Friedrich Dotzauer and Bernhard Romberg.
In 1814 he was admitted into the Dresden chapel as an oboist, since there were no violoncello vacancies. In the same year Carl Maria von Weber appointed Kummer as a violoncellist at the Royal Opera House.
Kummer became an acclaimed performer and in 1850 he was appointed as the principal violoncellist at the court chapel after Dotzauer retired. Kummer himself retired in 1864.
In 1839 Kummer wrote a method, Violoncelloschule für den ersten Unterricht (Violoncello School for Preliminary Instruction), Op. 60, for the violoncello that to this day remains very popular.
3 Duos concertans et brillans for violin and cello, Op.153 Duets for 2 cellos, Op.22Souvenir de la Suisse, Concertino for cello and orchestra or string quartet or piano, Op.30 (dedicated to Joseph Merk)Adagio et variations sur un thème de l'opéra "I Capuleti ed i Montecchi" de Bellini for cello and piano or string quartet, Op.31Duo facile sur des thèmes favoris de l'opéra "Les Huguenots" de Meyerbeer for cello or viola and piano, Op.34Pièce fantastique for cello and orchestra or string quartet or piano, Op.36 (1840)8 grosse Etüden (8 Grand Studies) for cello (cello 2 ad lib.), Op.44Deux pièces pour les Amateurs de Piano et de Violoncelle, Op.46Amusements pour les amateurs de Pianoforte et de Violoncelle (ou Viola) sur des Motifs de l'Opéra "Au fidele Berger" d'Adolphe Adam, Op.53Anticipations de la russie, Grande fantaisie sur des thèmes nationaux russes for cello and orchestra, Op.5610 Melodische Etüden (10 Melodious Studies) for cello (cello 2 ad lib.), Op.572 Duos de concert for violin and cello, Op.67Fantaisie sur les motifs de l'opéra "Lucia di Lammermoor" de G. Donizetti for cello or viola and piano, Op.68 (1841)Trois morceaux de salon sur des motifs de Henselt, Reissiger, Malibran for cello and piano, Op.69Réminiscences de l'opéra "La Favorite" de Donizetti, 2 Pieces for cello and piano, Op.70La Cantilena élégie for cello and piano, Op.72Concertino en forme d'une scène chantante for cello and piano, Op.73Reminiscenses des opéras de Rossini et de Bellini for violin or cello accompanied by string trio or piano, Op.74Introduction et polacca brillante, Concert Piece for cello and orchestra or string quartet or piano, Op.75Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opéra Rienzi de Richard Wagner for cello and piano, Op.784 Morceaux de salon sur des airs nationaux italiens, ecossais, allemands et espagnols for cello and piano, Op.814 Duets for 2 cellos, Op.10312 Duets for 2 cellos, Op.105Studien (Studies) for cello (cello 2 ad lib.), Op.106Cantilena ed Allegro moderato alla mazurka for cello and orchestra or string quartet or piano, Op.107Grazioso affettuoso for cello and piano, Op.108Les soirées du nord sur des airs russes et bohémiens, Fantaisies for cello and piano, Op.115Vier Salon-Stücke über Motive aus Rienzi, Holländer & Tannhäuser von Richard Wagner for cello and piano, Op. 11960 Exercices journaliers (60 daily exercises), Op. 1256 Duets for 2 cellos, Op.126Fantasie über Küchen's Lieder for cello and piano, Op.130Airs célèbres, Transcriptions for cello and piano, Op.1426 Duets for 2 cellos, Op.156
