Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich

An acquaintance of Mendelssohn and a friend to the philologist Wackernagel, Frohlich was a productive composer of choral works, solo vocal pieces, symphonies and sonatas. His living came primarily from teaching because he was in a veritable musical wasteland in Aarau. No contacts with prominent musicians and composers were available to him; those that were around were mired in the classical techniques and cared little for Frohlich's innovations. Suffering from depression due to misunderstandings and publishing difficulties, Frohlich committed suicide. Later he was recognized as one of the truly gifted Swiss Romantics. ~ Keith Johnson