Unsung Composers

The Music => Composers & Music => Topic started by: Wheesht on Saturday 23 December 2023, 16:47

Title: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: Wheesht on Saturday 23 December 2023, 16:47
Swiss composer Louis Niedermeyer has been mentioned just twice here, unless I missed something, the last time was ten years ago.
Turns out there's a Niedermeyer Association with biographical information (in French), some scores and recordings, e.g. of his Chant des Grecs (https://www.niedermeyer-nyon.ch/phonotheque/chant-des-grecs/).
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 23 December 2023, 22:02
Apparently he was naturalised French.
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: Wheesht on Sunday 24 December 2023, 07:29
French Wikipedia has this:
Quote...est un compositeur et pédagogue suisse. La révolution de 1848 le contraint à demander la citoyenneté française, ce qui lui permet d'exercer ses droits d'électeur au début de la IIe République.
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 24 December 2023, 08:44
Quite so. Thanks!
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: semloh on Monday 01 January 2024, 22:54
There's a smattering of short pieces by Louis Niedermeyer on YT, including his Overture in C major, and numerous performances of his Pietà, Signore. Wiki mentions five operas - inc. Mary Stuart, Stradella and Robert Bruce - all of which have quickly, and perhaps deservedly, disappeared into obscurity.
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: eschiss1 on Monday 01 January 2024, 23:02
Is the "perhaps deservedly" related to the quality of the existing/known-to-us material or simply padding, like "also, 1+1=2", but with a nasty tinge?...
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: semloh on Monday 01 January 2024, 23:50
Well, his last opera is described as a failure, and as far as I can tell none has a history of live performance, and none have been recorded. He eventually abandoned composing operas and turned to teaching. So it seems likely that their neglect is "perhaps" deserved. Our chances of knowing either way are very slim!  :D
Title: Re: Louis Niedermeyer (1802-1861)
Post by: Wheesht on Tuesday 02 January 2024, 10:15
There was a concert in Switzerland on 8 December with the first Swiss performance of his

Messe solennelle en si min
for soloists, choir and orchestra

but I only saw the poster after that date and do not know if the concert was a success.