A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Logier, Johann Bernard

LOGIER, Johann Bernard, a descendant of a family of French refugees, was born in 1780 at Kaiserslautern in the Palatinate, where his father and grandfather were organists. He received his early musical education from his father. After the death of his parents, and when about 10 years old, he came to England in the company of an English gentleman, with whom he resided for two years, and studied the flute and pianoforte. He then joined the band of a regiment commanded by the Marquis of Abercorn, of which Willman, father of the celebrated clarinet player, was master, and with which he went to Ireland. In 1796 he married Willman's daughter, and engaged in composing for and instructing military bands and teaching the pianoforte. At the close of the war, his regiment being disbanded, he became organist at Westport, Ireland. Whilst there he invented his machine for guiding the hands of learners on the pianoforte, and devised the system of instruction known by his name. [For an account of this machine and system, and the controversy which raged on their introduction, see Chiroplast.] In 1821 the Prussian government sent Franz Stoepel to London to inquire into the merits of the system, and the result was that Logier was invited to Berlin to superintend the promulgation of it in Prussia. He remained in Berlin three years, being allowed an annual vacation of three months to visit England. In 1826, having acquired a competency by the sale of his chiroplast and elementary works, his very numerous classes, and the fees received for permission to use his invention and teach on his system,—it was asserted that he had received 100 fees of 100 guineas each for that purpose,—he retired and settled in Ireland, near Dublin, where he died July 27, 1846. He composed some sonatas and other pieces, besides making numerous arrangements for the pianoforte. He also composed an ode on the commencement of the 50th year of the reign of George III., Oct. 1809, performed in Dublin. Besides the publications connected with his chiroplast, he was author of 'A Complete Introduction to the Keyed Bugle,' of which instrument he is said to have been the inventor.

[ W. H. H. ]