ABEL, KARL FRIEDRICH , German musi cian, was born in Cothen and died in London, where he lived during the greater part of his career. He was a great player on the viola da gamba, composed much music for that instrument and was one of the most prominent figures in the London musical life of his day. He studied under Johann Sebastian Bach at the Leipzig Thomasschule ; played for ten years (1748-58) under A. Hasse in the band formed at Dresden by the elector of Saxony; and then, going to England, became (in 1759) chamber musician to Queen Charlotte. The friendship between Johann Christian Bach, i ith son of Sebastian, who had also settled in London, and Abel led, in 1764 or 1765, to the establishment, at first under the auspices of the notorious Mrs. Cornelys, of the famous concerts subsequently known as the Bach and Abel con certs. The Hanover Square Rooms were opened, on Feb. 1,1775, by one of these concerts, at which, too, Haydn's symphonies were first performed in England. He was a man of striking pres ence, as several fine portraits, including two by Gainsborough, attest.