Nicolai, David Traugott
Nicolai, David Traugott
Nicolai, David Traugott, German organist, organ builder, and composer; b. Görlitz, Aug. 24, 1733; d. there, Dec. 20, 1799. Following training from his father, a pupil of Bach, he took courses in law, mathematics, and physics at the Univ. of Leipzig (1753–55). In 1758 he became his father’s assistant as organist at the Haupt-kirche in Görlitz, succeeding him as organist in 1764. In 1775 he was made electoral court organist. Nicolai acquired a notable reputation as an organ virtuoso and as an organ builder. Among his compositions were fugues for organ, piano sonatas, and some cantatas.
—Nicolas Slomnisky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire