Meinardus, Ludwig Siegfried

1827-1896

Composer and writer; born at Hooksiel, educated in the Gymnasium at Jever. His parents wished him to study theology, but his musical ability was so pronounced that they finally consented to let him study music, and he began on the violoncello under the local teacher. In 1846 he entered the Leipsic Conservatory, leaving it after a year for private instruction from Riccius. In 1850 he went to Berlin to study with Marx, but for some reason the police would not allow him to remain, and he went to Liszt at Weimar. He conducted small theatrical orchestras at Erfurt and Nordhausen, and finally was established at Berlin in 1853. On completing his education he was made conductor of the Singakademie at Glogau, where he stayed until 1865, leaving to fill a position in the Dresden Conservatory. In 1874 he removed to Hamburg, where he worked as composer and critic on the Hamburger  Correspondent. In 1887 he became organist at Bielefeld, where he died in 1896. Among his compositions are Gideon, Konig Salomo, Simon Petrus, Luther in Worms; two operas, Doktor Sassafras, and Bahnesa; the ballads, Frau Hitt, Die Nonne, Jung Baldurs Sieg, and Rolands Schwanenlied; besides some chamber-music. He has written a memoir of Mattheson and some collected criticisms.