Friedrich Wilhelm, an eminent musical critic and writer on the theory and practice of music, was born at Seehausen, Brandenburg, in 1718. He received a good education, and early applied himself to the study of music. When about thirty years of age he was appointed to an office under government at Berlin, and from that time devoted his leisure to the writing and publishing of works on music. He published several editions of his work on the art of playing the harpsichord, and of his work on thorough-bass and composition; also several editions and a French translation of his work on fugue-writing, Abhandlung von der Fuge, &c.; which French translation was again published by Choron in his Principes de Composition, &c., 1808, and in his Nouveau Manuel de Musique, &c. It has been objected to Marpurg's work on fugue-writing, that he did not clearly understand the true principles of canonical imitation, nor of those most important parts of the fugue, the subject and the answer. Also, that the natural order of the objects treated of is quite inverted, double counterpoints being placed after fugue, and canons after double counterpoint. Choron rectified this confusion in his Nouveau Manuel de Musique. In 1758 Marpurg published a good work on the composition of vocal music, Anleitung zur Singcomposition. In 1763 appeared his introduction to music in general, Anleitung zur Musik überhaupt, &c. In 1757-74-76-79 he published four works on theoretical music and on temperament. Besides these, he published several critical and historical works relative to music, and some of his own musical compositions. He also edited two collections of pieces for the harpsichord, and a collection of fugues by celebrated German composers. He died at Berlin on 22nd May 1795.