Andreas Romberg was born April 27, 1767, at Vechte, near Münster. At a very early age he was celebrated as a violinist. In his seventeenth year he made a _furor_ by his playing at the Concerts Spirituels, Paris. In 1790, with his cousin Bernhard, who was even more celebrated as a violoncellist (indeed the Rombergs, like the Bachs, were all musicians), he played in the Elector's band, and also went with him to Rome, where the cousins gave concerts together under the patronage of one of the cardinals. During the next four years Andreas travelled in Austria and France, and during his stay at Vienna made the acquaintance of Haydn, who was very much interested in his musical work. In 1800 he brought out an opera in Paris which made a failure. He then left for Hamburg, where he married and remained many years. In 1820 he was appointed court capellmeister at Gotha, and died there in the following year. Among his compositions are six symphonies; five operas, "Das graue Ungeheuer," "Die Macht der Musik," "Der Rabe," "Die Grossmuth des Scipio," and "Die Ruinen zu Paluzzi;" and several cantatas, quartets, quintets, and church compositions. Of all his works, however, his "Lay of the Bell" is the best known. A few years ago it was the stock piece of nearly every choral society in Germany, England, and the United States; and though now relegated to the repertory of old-fashioned music, it is still very popular. Lay of the Bell. The "Lay of the Bell" was composed in 1808, the music being set to Schiller's famous poem of the same name, whose stately measures are well adapted to musical treatment. It opens with a bass solo by the Master, urging on the workmen:-- "In the earth right firmly planted, Stands well baked the mould of clay: Up, my comrades, be ye helpful; Let the bell be born to-day."