Charles Wels (August 24, 1825 in Prague – May 12, 1906 in New York City)[1] was an American pianist, organist, composer, and music teacher. He studied under Václav Tomášek before relocating to the US. In the US he produced piano compositions and a funeral march for Abraham Lincoln.[2] (The Library of Congress has scanned in 60 compositions by Wels into its American Memory collection.)

Charles Wels, before 1889

He was briefly a Polish court-musician from 1847 to 1849.[3] In the 1860s he was organist at Christ Church of New York.[4]

His pupils included Samuel Brenton Whitney.

References

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  1. ^ "VIAF/LOC, from Baker's and Altmann". Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  2. ^ Library of Congress
  3. ^ Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol.6, 1920 American Supplement, page 28.
  4. ^ "'Wel's church music. A collection of sentences, chants, hymn-tunes and anthems, original or arranged by Charles Wels, organist of Christ Church, New York', published in 1864". Mason Brothers. 1864. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
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