Antonin Kammel

Antonín Kammel (also: Anton, Antoine, Antonio and other versions; Kamel, Kammell,
Kamml, Khaml, Cammell), born in 1739 in Bieletsch in Central Bohemia (today: Beˇ l ecˇ na Krˇ i voklátsku in the Kladno District), went to the Piarist school in Schlan (today: Slaný), where he also received music instruction, until 1751. After studying law and philosophy at the University of Prague (1751-1754), his patron, Count Vincenc von Waldstein, sent him to study violin with Giuseppe Tartini in Padua. This
was followed by a time as musician and music teacher in the Waldstein residences in Bohemia. In 1765, Antonín Kammel went to London, where he quickly made a name for himself both as violin and viola player and as composer and music teacher. He died there in 1784.

Antonín Kammel apparently wrote only instrumental music, mostly set for strings. During his life, his works were in great demand and were partly published in various editions.
The String Quartet in B Flat Major is the second work of a collection of six quartets, printed as opus 7 by John Welcker in London (no date). It starts with a lively sonata movement (Allegro) with charming congruities of the registers. Gallant gestures sound from the Andante espressivo, the special
expression of which comes from the minor coloring and the descending chromaticism. The final movement is a quite weighty Tempo di Menuetto, a fairly frequent choice in the early classical period