given by Pauer in Alte Klaviermusik (Senff). He was one of the many composers whom Handel laid under contribution for subjects and phrases in his oratorios.
There were two violinists of the same name in the Imperial chapel, Gottfried, from 1701 to 1709, and Johann Ernst, appointed in 1730, died in 1746, aged 48.
[ C. F. P. ]
MÜLLER, August Eberhardt, born Dec. 13, 1767, at Nordheim, in Hanover. His father, organist at Hinteln, was his first instructor. In 1785 he went to Leipzig to study law, but soon gave it up, and became in 1789 organist of St. Ulrich's church, Magdeburg. In 1792 he was chosen to direct the concerts, etc., at Berlin, and there became intimate with Marpurg, Fasch, Reichardt, and other distinguished men. He was made organist of St. Nicholas' church, Leipzig, in 1794. He played the organ and harpsichord equally well, and was also a proficient on the flute. In 1810 he moved to Weimar, and died in 1817 [App. p.722 "Dec. 3"]. The following is a list of his compositions:—(1) Piano. 2 concertos; a trio for piano and strings, op. 17; 2 sonatas for violin and piano; 4 sonatas for piano solo, besides variations, etc. (2) Organ. Suites; a sonata and chorale, variations. (3) Flute. 11 concertos; a fantasia with orchestra, and 4 duets for two flutes. (4) Vocal. Cantata for 4 voices and wind band; songs with piano accompaniment. (5) Instruction. Method for the piano, and instruction-book for the flute.
[ J. A. F. M. ]
MÜLLER, the brothers, celebrated quartet-players, four sons of the Duke of Brunswick's Hofmusikus, Aegidius Christoph Müller, [App. p.722 "date of birth, July 2, 1766"] who died Aug. 14, 1841, at Brunswick, where all his sons were born. The brothers were Karl Friedrich, 1st violin and concertmeister to the Duke, born Nov. 11, 1797, died April 4, 1873; Theodor Heinrich Gustav, viola, born Dec. 3, 1799, died Sept. 7, 1855; August Theodor, cello, born Sept 27, 1802, died Oct. 20, 1875; Franz Ferdinand Georg, 2nd violin and Capellmeister to the Duke, born July 29, 1808, died May 22, 1855. Educated by their father expressly with a view to quartet-playing, they brought the art to a perfection then unknown. The Duke of Brunswick's somewhat tyrannical regulation, by which none of his musicians were allowed to take any part in the music of the town, obliged them to prepare in secret for appearing in public, and in 1830 they sent in their resignations. They gave concerts at Hamburg in 1831, and in 1832 at Berlin, where the public gradually learned to appreciate their wonderful ensemble. In 1833 they left Berlin, and visited in turn all the principal cities of Germany and Paris, extending their tours farther and farther, till 1845, when they went to Russia. Their repertoire consisted almost entirely of the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, and they thus contributed immensely to the spread of a taste for really good music. Their rendering of Haydn's 'Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser' especially had a world-wide reputation.
The eldest brother, Karl Friedrich, also had four sons, known as the younger Müller brothers: Bernhard, viola, born Feb. 24, 1825; Karl, 1st violin, born April 14, 1829; Hugo, 2nd violin, born Sept. 21, 1832; and Wilhelm, cello, the most important, born June 1, 1834. They were court quartet-players to the Duke of Meiningen, and also made extended tours, visiting Russia, Denmark, and France. In 1866 they settled for a short time in Wiesbaden, and then at Rostock, where Karl became Capellmeister, his place in the quartet being supplied when travelling by Leopold Auer. It was however broken up entirely in 1873, by the appointment of Wilhelm as Kammermusikus, and teacher at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. The younger Müllers, though distinguished for their ensemble, did not reach the standard of perfection maintained by the elder brothers; the chief reason being that instead of restricting themselves to genuine quartets, they played music which, though good of its kind, was in reality more suited to a small orchestra.
[ F. G. ]
MULLER, Wilhelm, author of the poems of Schubert's beautiful Liedercyclus 'Die schöne Müllerin' and 'Die Winterreise,' and father of Max Müller the eminent philologist, was born at Dessau Oct. 7, 1794, son of a well-to-do tradesman, who educated him carefully in accordance with the liberal tendencies of the times. In 1812 he studied philology at Berlin under F. A. Wolf, and history. In 1813 he joined the Prussian army as a volunteer, and took part in Lützen, Bautzen, and other battles, and in the occupation of the Netherlands. Returning to Berlin in 1814, he devoted himself to ancient German language and literature. On his return from Italy in 1819 he became librarian to the Duke of Dessau. He died at Dessau on Oct. 1, 1827. The best-known of his poems are 'Gedichte aus den hinterlassenen Papieren eines Waldhornisten,' 2 vols. (1821–24); 'Lieder der Griechen,' 5 parts (1821–24); a translation of Fauriel's modern Greek national airs, 2 vols. (Leipzig, 1825); 'Lyrische Spaziergänge' (ibid. 1827). His miscellaneous works were edited by Schwab, 5 vols. (1830). His collected poems, published after his death (Leipzig, 1837), are among the choicest lyrical treasures of Germany.[1] Warmth and truth of expression, keen observation of nature, and melodiousness of language, have made him a universal favourite with composers. Randhartinger states that the first time Schubert met with the Müllerlieder, he was so enchanted that he set several before the next day.
[ F. G. ]
MUNDY, John, Mus. Doc., son of William Mundy, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, was educated by his father, became organist of Eton College, and about 1585 succeeded John Merbecke as one of the organists of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. On July 9, 1586, he graduated as Mus. Bac. at Oxford. Both he and his father are mentioned in some verses at the end of a MS. collection of Motets and Madrigals
- ↑ See an essay on Wilhelm Müller, in Max Müller's 'Chips from a German Workshop,' vol. iii. pp. 103–121.
