Spohr, Ludwig or Louis, 1784–1859, German composer, conductor, and violinist. After touring Europe extensively, he was (1822–57) court conductor in Kassel. His prolific output includes 11 oper...

Rosenzweig, Franz, 1886–1929, German-Jewish philosopher, b. Kassel. As a youth he was thoroughly trained in German philosophy and, after a near conversion to Christianity, dedicated himself to...

Flémal, Bertholet, 1614–75, Flemish painter of mythological and religious subjects. He went to Italy in 1638 and worked in Florence for the Grand Duke Ferdinand III. Returning to Paris, he was...

Weser, river, c.300 mi (480 km) long, formed at Hannoversch-Münden, central Germany, by the junction of the Fulda and Werra rivers. It flows generally N past Minden, where it passes through th...

Reuter, Baron Paul Julius von, 1816–99, founder of Reuters Telegram Company (now part of Thomson Reuters), b. Kassel, Germany. His original name was Israel Beer Josaphat. First a bank clerk, h...

Hesse, Ger. Hessen, state (1994 pop. 5,800,000), 8,150 sq mi (24,604 sq km), central Germany. Wiesbaden is the capital. It is bounded by Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria in the south, Rhineland-P...

Jordaens, Jacob, 1593–1678, Flemish baroque painter, b. Antwerp. After the deaths of Rubens and Van Dyck, by whom he was influenced, he became the leading Flemish painter of his day and worked...

Křenek, Ernst, 1900–1991, Austrian-American composer, b. Vienna. to Czech parents. He studied in Vienna and Berlin, and in the early 1920s he composed chamber music, a violin concerto (1924), ...

Westphalia, Ger. Westfalen, region and former province of Prussia, W Germany. Münster was the capital of the province. After 1945 the province was incorporated into the West German state of No...