Eduard Bayer
Johann Gottfried Eduard Bayer, usually known as Eduard Bayer, was a German composer for the classical guitar and a virtuoso performer on the guitar, harp guitar, mandolin and zither.
Biography
Bayer was born in Augsburg. He was the son of a civil servant who died early. At age six, he became a member of the boys choir at the local St. Ulrich's church. In his youth, he was employed as an engraver and worked for the company for six years. A local municipal official named W. Schmölzl introduced him to the guitar, giving him scores and tuition materials from Sor, Giuliani, Legnani, and Mertz. He gained such proficiency that by around 1843, he could give up his engraver's job and become a professional guitarist. In 1848, after a number of successful recitals in his hometown, he set out on a tour through Germany together with a certain Loe, one of his most talented pupils. Apparently, they were not successful and on the brink of returning home when at Darmstadt, their fate turned: "Having to pass through Darmstadt on their journey they were quite unexpectedly commanded to play before the court and they received genuine and hearty applause from the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess, the latter being a daughter of King Ludwig of Bavaria. Being now provided with weighty recommendations, they left the town which had provided them with such a pleasant surprise and from this time their success was assured."He later travelled through many musical centres in Germany including Dresden and Leipzig and also through the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. After two years of travelling, he ended up in Hamburg in 1850, although he continued touring until 1857. For some of his publications, he used the pseudonym "A. Caroli", for example for his guitar method Vollständige Guitarreschule and his two collections of short pieces called Esmeralda. One of his most prominent pupils was Otto Hammerer.
Bayer wrote mainly for the salon or for domestic entertainment. Among his numerous compositions are collections of 100 Erholungen, 21 volumes of Der Guitarrist im Salon, and 10 volumes of Musikalischer Blumenstraus. In spite of his international tours and his method being translated into English and French, Bone wrote "Bayer is held in the highest estimation as a composer by his countrymen, but he is practically unknown out of Germany".
He also composed songs for voice and guitar, also some music for the zither and a fantasy for guitar and piano. He frequently performed on a harp guitar and was the inventor of a pedal harp guitar that was able to move a capodaster up and down the neck with the help of a foot pedal. Bayer died in Hamburg.
Selected compositions
Guitar soloFleurs du bal. Collection de quadrilles, valses, polka etc. sur des thèmes des opéras italiens, Op. 2 Le Repertoire du guitarriste. Morceaux modernes et non difficiles. 15 volumes. Contains, e.g.: vol. 1: Fantaisie sur le chant Les Plus beaux yeux, Op. 17 – score ; vol. 4: Die Heimath, Op. 20 – score Souvenir d'amour. Fantaisie pour la guitare à 10 ou 6 cordes, Op. 22 – see 'External links' belowGrand rondo brillant, Op. 40 Echo musical. Collection de compositions les plus nouveaux et favorites Compositions pour la guitare- Divertissement
Guitar and pianoErinnerung an Hamburg. Fantasy
Voice and guitarBayer's Liederschatz für Guitarre. Eine Auswahl der beliebtesten Lieder und Opern-Gesänge mit leichter Gitarrebegleitung. Vol. 1: Franz Schubert. Contains: "Das Wandern"; "Der Neugierige"; "Wohin?"; "Ungeduld"; "Morgengruss"; "Mit dem grünen Lautenbande"; "Mein"; "Des Müllers Blumen"; "Thränenregen"; "Danksagung an den Bach"; "Am Feierabend"; "Trock'ne Blumen"; "Der Müller und der Bach"; "Des Baches Wiegenlied"; "Erlkönig"; "Leise flehen meine Lieder"; "Der Wanderer"; "Lob der Thränen"; "Am Meer"; "Horch, horch, die Lerch im Aetherblau"; "Ave Maria".
- dto., vol. 2: Conradin Kreutzer
- dto., vol. 3: Albert Lortzing
- dto., vol. 4: Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
- dto., vol. 5: Curschmann, Chopin, Nicolai
- ''Schule der Geläufigkeit für die Zither''