Zabel spent most of his career in Russia, at the courts of the Russian Tsars and teaching at the conservatory of St. Petersburg. A great harpist, he founded the Russian school of harp playing. The works that are most well known by harpists today are his "Methode für Harfe", excellent for training beautiful tone production, further his virtuosic tone study "Am Springbrunnen" op. 23 and his concerto for harp in C-minor (op. 35). They are most commonly encountered in the advanced stages of learning the instrument, but are rewarding, romantic pieces in their own right. He died in St. Petersburg in 1910. (contribution by <unic29@hotmail.com>)

Zabel toured Germany, Russa and England and went to America with Josef Gung’l and his orchestra in 1848. He was also harpist in the Royal Opera House in Berlin, as well as in the orchestra of the St. Peterburg Imperial Ballet until his death. (contribution by Stanley Goscombe <stangostrauss49@phonecoop.coop>)