A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Maurer, Ludwig

by Franz Gehring

MAURER, Ludwig Wilhelm, distinguished violinist, born Aug. [App. p.715 "Feb."] 8, 1789, in Potsdam, pupil of Haak, Concertmeister to Frederic the Great. At 13 he appeared with great success at a concert given in Berlin by Mara, and was in consequence admitted to the royal chapel as a probationer. After the battle of Jena (1806) the chapel was dismissed, and Maurer travelled, first to Königsberg and Riga, where he made the acquaintance of Rode and Baillot, and then to Mittau and St. Petersburg, his playing being everywhere appreciated. At Moscow he again met Baillot, through whose good offices he became Capellmeister to the Chancellor Wsowologsky, who had a private orchestra. Here he remained till 1817, when he made another successful tour, being particularly well received in Berlin and Paris. In 1832 he returned to Wsowologsky, and stayed till 45, when after another tour he settled finally in Dresden. The best known of his compositions are a Symphonic concertante for 4 violins and orchestra, first played in Paris by himself, Spohr, Müller, and Wich in 1838; and three Russian airs with variations (op. 14). Of his operas 'Alonzo,' 'Der entdeckte Diebstahl,' and 'Der neue Paris,' the overtures only have been printed. He also published several concertos—one of which was at one time very often played at the Philharmonic Concerts in London—and two collections of quartets (op. 17 and 26). He died at St. Petersburg, Oct. 25, 1878. His two sons Wsevolod, a violinist, and Alexis, a cellist, are good musicians. They are now settled in Russia.

[ F. G. ]