Philippe-Jacques Meyer (1732–1820)[1][a] was a French harpist and composer. He was born in Strasbourg, studied theology as well as music and gave his first solo concert in Paris in 1761.[2] He was primarily active as a teacher and composer. He traveled extensively between London, Paris and Strasbourg and settled in London in 1784[2][3] where he used an anglicised form of his name, Philip James Meyer.[1]
Meyer's 1763 Essai sur la vraie manière de jouer de la harpe is a historical survey of the harp and of harp music and one of the first pedagogical harp treatises. Meyer himself was one of the first to perform on the then-new pedal harp in Paris, in 1765, and the first to perform on one in London, during his first visit in 1772.[1]
He married in Strasbourg in 1768, and had 2 sons – one also named Philip James – who were both also performers on and composers for the harp.[1]
Treatises and compositions edit
- 1763 Essai sur la vraie manière de jouer de la harpe, avec une méthode de l'accorder, op. 1
- 1774 Nouvelle pour apprendre a jouer de la harpe avec la manière de l'accorder, op. 9
- Divertimenti for Flute, Harp and Violin
- Divertimenti for Harp and Violin, Op.2
- 12 English Songs
- Fantasie and Larghetto with Variations
- Favorite Airs with Variations for Harp and Piano
- 4 Favorite Airs with Variations for the Harp
- 6 Harp Sonatas, Op.3
- Mozart's 'Forget Me Not' and 2 Waltzes
- 4 Original Lessons for the Harp
- Rondo on The Italian Monfrina
- Theme and Scotch Air with Variations
- Variations on a Menuet by Exaudet
- Variations on Robin Adair
- Variations on The Bush aboon Traquair
- Variations on Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonny Doon
Notes edit
a. ^ His dates are sometimes given as 1737–1819, but contemporary newspapers clearly report his death as occurring on 17 January 1820, in his 88th year.
References edit
- ^ a b c d Seccombe, Thomas (1889). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 18. p. 317.
- ^ a b Hans J. Zingel, "Meyer, Philippe-Jacques [Philipp Jakob; Philip James," Grove Music Online]
- ^ Slonimsky, Nicolas; Kuhn, Laura; McIntire, Dennis. "Meyer, Philippe-Jacques". Encyclopedia.com.