Ferdinand Zellbell

Swedish musician, composer and organist, commonly called Ferdinand Zellbell d. ä. (the elder), born 14 or 15 April 1698 in Uppsala, died 6 July 1765 in Stockholm. The family came to Sweden from Lüneburg in the 17th century. Zellbell's father was a baker and councilor in Uppsala. His brother, Anders Zellbell (born about 1680, died 1727) was an official who from 1697 sometimes acted as cathedral organist and director of music in Uppsala. Zellbell d.ä.'s main instruments were organ, piano and double bass. He was first a student and assistant to Christian Zellinger in Uppsala. In 1715 he became a member of the Royal Court Orchestra, and in 1719 he was appointed organist in Storkyrkan, Stockholm, after having been acting for two years. He maintained the position until his death, but was replaced in 1753 in whole or in part by his son Ferdinand Zellbell d.y. Johan Helmich Roman appreciated Zellbell d.ä. most of all Swedish organists. Ferdinand Zellbell The Younger (Ferdinand Zellbell d.y.) was the son of Ferdinand Zellbell d.ä.