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Scan 129
Dictionary of music and musicians, 1908
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1died at St. Petersburg, Oct. 25, 1878. His two sons Wsevolod, a violinist, and Alexis, a violoncellist, were good musicians who settled in Russia.
2F. G.
3MAXWELL, FRANCIS KELLY (sometimes called John), D.D., chaplain of the Asylum, Edinburgh, published anonymously An Essay upon Tune, being an attempt to free the scale of music and the tune of instruments from imperfection (Edinburgh, 1781; London, 1794);—an able work. He died in 1782. W. H. H.
4MAY, EDWARD COLLETT, born Oct. 29, 1806, at Greenwich, where his father was a shipbuilder. His first teacher was his brother Henry, an amateur musician and composer of considerable ability. When about fifteen years of age, Thomas Adams, then organist of St. Paul's, Deptford, and an intimate friend of the May family, struck by the promise and intelligence of Edward, offered to take him as a pupil. Subsequently he became a pupil of Cipriani Potter for the pianoforte, and of Crivelli for singing. In 1837 he was appointed organist of Greenwich Hospital, an office he held till the abolition of the institution in 1869. From 1841 to his death he devoted himself enthusiastically and exclusively to the musical teaching of the masses; and it may be safely asserted that to few individuals, of any age or country, have so many persons of all ages and of both sexes been indebted for their musical skill. At one institution alone, the National Society's Central School, more than a thousand teachers and many more children were instructed by him. At Exeter Hall, the Apollonicon Rooms, and subsequently St. Martin's Hall, several thousand adults passed through his classes; while for many years he was the sole musical instructor at the Training Schools, Battersea, St. Mark's, Whitelands, Home and Colonial, and Hockerill; institutions from which upwards of 250 teachers are annually sent forth to elementary schools. After many years' connection with the Institution, May was appointed in 1880 Professor of Vocal Music in Queen's College, London. [He died Jan. 2, 1887.]
5His daughter, Florence May, is known in London as a pianoforte player of considerable cultivation and power, and a successful teacher. [She had the great advantage of being a pupil of Johannes Brahms, and has distinguished herself as an interpreter of his music, playing many of his pianoforte works for the first time in England. She has recently completed a biography of the master, two vols., 1905.] J. H.
6MAY-QUEEN, THE, A PASTORAL; words by H. F. Chorley, music by W. Sterndale Bennett, written for a festival at Leeds, and produced there Sept. 8, 1858. The overture was composed before the year 1844, and was originally entitled 'Marie du Bois.' It was first performed June 24, 1845, at the composer's own concert at the Hanover Square Rooms. G.
7MAYER, CHARLES, celebrated pianist, born March 21, 1799, at Königsberg. His father, a clarinet player, went soon after the boy's birth to St. Petersburg, and four years after to Moscow, where he settled with his family. Charles 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. 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.
8F. G.
9MAYNARD, JOHN, a lutenist, published in 1611 'The XII Wonders of the World, Set and composed for the Violl de Gambo, the Lute and the Voyce to sing the Verse, all three jointly and none severall; also Lessons for the Lute and Base Violl to play alone; with some Lessons to play Lyra-waye alone, or if you will to fill up the parts with another Violl set Lute-way.' The work contains twelve songs severally describing the characters of a Courtier, Divine, Soldier, Lawyer, Physician, Merchant, Country Gentleman, Bachelor, Married Man, Wife, Widow, and Maid; and twelve pavans and galliards for the lute. A curious canon, 'Eight parts in one upon the Plaine Song,' is on the title-page. The composer described himself as 'Lutenist at the most famous Schoole of St. Julian's in Hartfordshire,' and dedicated his work 'To his ever-honoured Lady and Mistris the Lady Joane Thynne, of Cause Castle in Shropshire.' Some organ pieces by one Maynard (presumably the same) are contained in a MS. in the library of the Sacred Harmonic Society.
10W. H. H.
11MAYR, JOHANN SIMON (also called SIMONE MAYER), esteemed opera composer in the
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