This judgment of Ambros[27] sums up in a remarkable manner the _rôle_ which Frescobaldi fills in the history of music. In the history of organ music, taken alone, he more than represents a period of transition; he stands as a creator, who brought into view, although framed in obsolete mannerisms, a whole hereafter; his inability to partake of which is the cause of the melancholy regret which he often unsuccessfully attempts to cloak under a certain amount of affectation. [Footnote 27: _Geschichte der Musik_, vol. iv, p. 438.] II Johann Jakob Froberger, the son of a cantor in Halle, was born in that city; the exact date of his birth is uncertain, but may perhaps be fixed at between 1610 and 1620.[28] [Footnote 28: The records of the city of Halle, from the year 1620 on, do not contain the name Froberger. It is thus useless to entertain the date 1635, given by some historians.] A Swedish ambassador, temporarily in Halle, took Froberger with him to Vienna, says Walther (_Lexicon_, Leipzig, 1732); he was charmed with the fine voice of the youth--who was fifteen years of age--and astonished at his rare musical talent. Soon Froberger became a member of the imperial choir. In the treasury records of the _Hofburg_ we find him designated as organist of the palace from January 1, 1637, to September 30 of the same year.[29] After this he left Vienna for Rome to study with Frescobaldi. This move had previously been decided upon; the records above mentioned contain the following entry upon the subject: "J.J. Froberger requests that he be sent to Rome, to Frescobaldi, as he was promised. The sum of 200 florins is granted him." After four years of study he resumed his service at court, April 1, 1641. In 1645 he obtained leave of absence. Where did he pass this time? Perhaps he remained in Vienna, where his ability as a clavecinist was highly appreciated; at any rate he was there in 1649. William Swann, _chevalier lettré et grand amateur de musique_, wrote from Vienna, September 15, 1649, to Constantin Huygens,[30] a councillor to the Prince of Orange, that he was sending him "some pieces given me by a Monsieur Froberger, who has great talent for the spinet."[31] [Footnote 29: At first he received twenty-five florins a month. Later his salary was raised to sixty florins, in addition to gratuities and money for clothing, beginning at twenty florins per year. Two organists were usually in service.] [Footnote 30: He was the father of the astronomer, Christian Huygens. Himself a composer, he was much interested in music. Curious facts concerning musicians of his time will be found in the work of W. Jonckenbloet and Land: _Correspondance et oeuvres musicales de Constantin Huygens_, Leyden, 1882.] [Footnote 31: "des pieces que un nommé Mons. Froberger ma donnez, et qui est un homme tres rare sur les Espinettes."]