Johann(es) Simon Mayr (also spelled Majer, Mayer,
Maier), also known in Italian as Giovanni Simone Mayr
or Simone Mayr (1763 --1845) 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 inf...(+)
Johann(es) Simon Mayr (also spelled Majer, Mayer,
Maier), also known in Italian as Giovanni Simone Mayr
or Simone Mayr (1763 --1845) 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.
Psalm 117 is the 117th psalm of the Book of Psalms.
With just two verses and sixteen words in Hebrew, it is
the shortest of all 150 psalms. It is the 595th of the
1,189 chapters of the King James Version of the Bible
making it the middle chapter. It is also the shortest
chapter in this version of the Bible. Psalm 117, known
by the opening words in Latin as "Laudate dominum"
(translated "O, Praise the Lord" or "Praise ye the
Lord"), has been set to music by a number of composers,
including William Byrd and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
As with the other Psalms, "Laudate Dominum" is
concluded with a trinitarian doxology (Gloria Patri)
when used in the Roman rite. In Catholic churches, the
Psalm may be sung after the blessing at the devotional
service called Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament.
The title "Laudate Dominum" can also refer to Psalm 150
which begins with identical text. The exhortations to
praise God through music in Psalm 150 have inspired
settings from a number of composers.
Although originally composed for Chorus and Orchestra,
I created this arrangement for Winds (Flutes, Oboes, Bb
Clarinets, French Horn & Bassoon) and Strings (Violins,
Violas, Cellos & Basss).