Johann(es) Simon Mayr (1763 – 1845: also spelled
Majer, Mayer, Maier), also known in Italian as Giovanni
Simone Mayr or Simone Mayr was a German composer.
He was born in Mendorf near Altmannstein, Landkreis
Eichstätt, Bavaria, and studied theology at the
University of Ingolstadt, continuing his studies in
Italy from 1787. He was closely associated with the
Bavarian Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt while a student
in Ingolstadt, and the ideals of the French
Enlightenment were a strong in...(+)
Johann(es) Simon Mayr (1763 – 1845: also spelled
Majer, Mayer, Maier), also known in Italian as Giovanni
Simone Mayr or Simone Mayr was a German composer.
He was born in Mendorf near Altmannstein, Landkreis
Eichstätt, Bavaria, and studied theology at the
University of Ingolstadt, continuing his studies in
Italy from 1787. He was closely associated with the
Bavarian Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt while a student
in Ingolstadt, and the ideals of the French
Enlightenment were a strong influence on his philosophy
as a musician as corroborated by his famed Zibaldone or
"Notebooks" compiled toward the end of his career.
Shortly thereafter, he took music lessons with Carlo
Lenzi, and later with Ferdinando Bertoni. He moved to
Bergamo in 1802 and was appointed maestro di cappella
at the Cathedral of Bergamo, succeeding his old teacher
Lenzi. He held the post until his death, and became a
central figure in the city's musical life, organizing
concerts and introducing Ludwig van Beethoven's music
there. He was music teacher to Gaetano Donizetti. By
the end of his life, he was blind. He died in Bergamo
and is buried in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
there, just in front of the tomb of his famous
pupil.
Mayr's works, among which there are almost seventy
operas, are rarely performed today. This work "Laudate
Dominum" ("Praise the Lord") was originally written for
Chorus (SATB) and Orchestra. I created this unusual
arrangement for French Horn Duet & Acoustic Piano.
