Gluck, Chris Toph

WILL I BALD, a German musical composer, B. at We is sen wan gen, 1714, studied music at Milan, under San Martini, and presented soon afterward several operas at sundry theatres in Italy, which failed to attract public attention. Judging that his want of succe was partially due to the weakne of the libretti, he conjoined with himself in his labors the poet Ranieri di Culzabigi, and his next subsequent opera, Helena and Paris, was received with tumults of applause. In 1774 he went to Paris, and presented there succe ively several masterpieces, as Iphigenia in Aulis, Orpheus, Armidas, Iphigenia in Taurus, Alcestes. The composer Piccini having also presented an opera called Alcestes, there arose between the two composers and their respective partisans a very animated quarrel as to the preeminence of the two rivals, and of the style cultivated by each. It would seem that each had his own share of the right in the dispute, for while Piccini had sweetne of melody, Gluck had musical truth, and the power and grandeur of harmony on his side. The contest of the Gluckists and Piccinists, which for a time divided the whole musical world, resulted in the complete victory of Gluck. Having composed two more operas, Gluck returned to Vienna in 1779, and never after quitted that city. D. 1787. Glückstadt, ( glook's tat,) a seaport and town of Pru ia, in the duchy of Holstein, on the Elbe, 28 m. from Hamburg; pop . 7,234.