Thomas Baltzar

Thomas Baltzar (c. 1631 ? July 7, 1663 in London), German violinist, was born at Lübeck. He visited England in 1656 and made a great impression on John Evelyn and Anthony Wood. In 1661 he was appointed leader of the king's famous band of twenty-four violins, but his intemperate habits cut short his career within two years. Nothing like his violin playing had ever been heard in England before, and in all probability the instrumental music of Henry Purcell owes much to its influence.