Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Lutz, Wilhelm Meyer
LUTZ, WILHELM MEYER, commonly known as Meyer Lutz (1829–1903), musical composer, was born probably in 1829, though other dates have been given, at Münnerstadt, near Kiasingen, Bavaria where his father was organist and harmony professor at the Schullehier Anstalt Meyer Lutz, growing up in a musical atmosphere became a good pianist in childhood, and at twelve years old played in public with orchestral accompaniment. He afterwards studied at the Gymnasium, Würzburg. passing in due course to the university, and pursued his musical studies under Eisenhofer and Keller. In 1848 he was in England where he remained for life. He was organist of St. Chad's, Birmingham, and then of St. Ann's, Leeds. He conducted at the Surrey Theatre, London, 1861-6, and went on tours through the provinces with Italian operatic artists and the Pyne-Harrison company. He finally settled in as conductor at the newly opened Gaiety Theatre. He held the office from March 1869 till 1896. He was also organist and choirmaster at St. George's Roman catholic cathedral, Southwark. For the church he composed several grand masses, five Magnificats (published), a Tantum Ergo, and much other music. He edited a complete collection of motets for the ecclesiastical year, including some of his own, which were rather trivial. He was far better known by the very many settings of the lightest kind of musical entertainments which he composed for the Gaiety Theatre (cf. for details, the Sketch, 18 April 1894). His most successful tune was the 'Pas de Quatre' in 'Faust Up to Date' (1888). In a rather larger style he produced the operettas 'Faust and Marguerite' (1855), 'Blonde and Brunette' (1862), 'Zaida' (1868), 'Miller of Milburg' (1872), 'Legend of the Lys' (1893), and a concert-cantata 'Herne the Hunter' (1863). He left also unpublished works in the more ambitious forms of instrumental music. Lutz died in West Kensington, London, on 31 Jan. 1903. He married in succession two sisters, whose maiden name was Cooke.
[Meyer Lutz's works in Brit. Mus. Library ; Grove's Dict. of Music ; John Hollingshead's Gaiety Chronicles, 1898 (with portrait); Musical Times, and Musical Herald, March 1903; information from Dr. Hornsey Casson and Mr. Leopold Stern.]