A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Baltzar, Thomas
BALTZAR, Thomas, born at Lübeck about 1630; the finest violinist of his time, and the first really great performer heard in England. He came to this country in 1656, and stayed for some time with Sir Anthony Cope, of Hanwell, Oxon. Evelyn heard him play March 4, 1656, and has left an account which may be read in his Diary under that date. Anthony Wood met him on July 24, 1658, and 'did then and there to his very great astonishment, heare him play on the violin. He then saw him run up his fingers to the end of the Fingerboard of the Violin, and run them back insensibly, and all with alacrity, and in very good tune, which he nor any in England saw the like before … Wilson thereupon, the public Professor, … did, after his humoursome way, stoop downe to Baltzar's Feet, to see whether he had a Huff on; that is to say, to see whether he was a Devill or not, because he acted beyond the parts of a man. ….Being much admired by all lovers of musick, his company was therefore desired; and company, especially musicall company, delighting in drinking, made him drink more than ordinary, which brought him to his grave.' At the Restoration [App. p.530 "Soon after"] Baltzar was appointed leader of the King's celebrated band of twenty-four violins, but died soon after, and was buried in the cloister of Westminster Abbey. He is entered on the Register as 'Mr. Thomas Balsart, one of the violins in the King's Service July 27, 1663.'
Baltzar did much towards placing the violin in England in its present position, at the head of all stringed instruments. He appears from Wood's account to have introduced the practice of the shift, till then unknown, and the use of the upper part of the finger-board. Playford's 'Division Violin' contains all that appear to have been printed of his compositions, but Burney speaks in high terms of some MS. solos in his possession; and a set of sonatas for a 'lyra violin, treble violin, and bass viol,' were sold at the auction of Thomas Britton the 'musical small-coal man.'