A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mayer, Charles

MAYER, Charles, celebrated pianist, born March 21, 1799, at Königsberg. His father, a good clarinet player, went soon after his birth to St. Petersburg, and four years after to Moscow, where he settled with his family. He first learned from his mother, a good pianoforte teacher, and later became a pupil of Field. After the burning of Moscow in 1812 the family fled to St. Petersburg, where the mother became pianoforte teacher, and where the lessons with Field were resumed. The pupil played so exactly like his master that connoisseurs were unable to tell which was at the piano if a screen was interposed. In 1814 Mayer accompanied his father to Paris, where he was well received. He first played his concert-variations on 'God save the king' in Amsterdam. In 1819 he returned to St. Petersburg, where he worked hard and successfully at teaching, and formed as many as 800 pupils. In 1845 he travelled to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Vienna, but this was his last tour. In 1850 he settled in Dresden, where he taught, gave concerts, and composed up to his death, which took place on July 2, 1862. His pieces reach the astonishing number of 900. Mayer's playing was distinguished by great purity of style, and expression, and his compositions are eminently suited to the instrument. They include a concerto with orchestra in D, op. 70; a concerto symphonique, op. 89; and variations and fantasias on opera airs. His 'Polka Bohémienne' in A, was at one time immensely popular. [App. p.715 "a Mazurka by him in F♯ major was for some time considered to be by Chopin, and as such was included in the first issue of Klindworth's edition. It has been removed from later issues."]

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