Biography
Baltzar served as a violinist and composer from Germany at the court of Sweden's Queen Christina, yet acquired the nickname "Swede" only after settling in England. Although scant examples of his output remain, the violin works he left behind—among them variations on "John, come kiss me now" and sets of suites—are credited with introducing levels of technical demand never previously encountered in England. Mastery of double stopping together with ready command of fresh positions in the upper register allowed Baltzar to advance English violin playing by a full century.