Joseph Friedrich Bernhard Caspar Majer Explained

Joseph Friedrich Bernhard Caspar Majer (Schwäbisch Hall, 16 October 1689 - Schwäbisch Hall, 22 May 1768), was a German musician from the beginning of the 18th century, a "significant writer" on music in the late Baroque era.^[1]

He was a singer at Schwäbisch Hall, an organist and cantor at St. Katharina, and author of two books, music methods:

• 1718, Hodegus musicus. Teaches singing. A later edition published Schwäbisch Hall by Georg M. Majer, 1741.^[2]
• 1732, Museum musicum theoreticalo-practicum. The author advertised on the title page that readers would learn how to thoroughly learn both vocal and instrumental music) (1732).^[3] A second edition came out in 1741.^[3]

His second book was written to acquaint would-be musicians with information to help them learn to play instruments. The instruments included: recorder, chalumeau, transverse flute, 3-keyed bassoon, cornett, flageolet, and 2-keyed clarinet, clarion trumpet, tenor and bass trombone, alto and quint trombone, horn, lute, "harp" or psaltery, guitar, timpani, violin, viola, cello, viola de gamba and viola d'amore.^[3] The book also includes the basics for reading music, a "survey of vocal music and intervals," and a dictionary of musical terms. ^{[3] [4]}

What made him to be considered a significant writer was the annotations that he made in his personal copy of Museum musicum theoreticalo-practicum.^[1] That city reside in the Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart.^[3]

References

• Book: Maier, Joseph F. . Museum Musicum Theoretico-Practicum . München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek . Schwäbisch Hall . 1732 .

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Grove Music Online . Majer, Joseph Friedrich Bernhard Caspar . George J. . Buelowm. 2001 . 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.17499 .
2. Web site: Major Joseph Friedrich Bernhard Caspar 1689-1768 . Hodegus musicus oder getreu-musikalischer Wegweiser, darinnen gezeiget wird das rechte Fundament der Singkunst (translation: Hodegus musicus or faithfully musical signpost, showing the right foundation of the art of singing) ...1 copy preserved...Utrecht, Bibliothek der Rijksuniv .
3. Review: Joseph Friedrich Bernhard Caspar Majers Neu-eröffneter Theoretisch- und Praktischer Music-Saal (Nuremberg, 1741) by Eitelfriedrich Thom . Pamela L. . Poulin . Music & Letters . 72 . 4 . November 1991 . 587–589 . 10.1093/ml/72.4.587 . 737015 .
4. Web site: PRINTED SOURCES OF MUSIC for LUTE, ORPHARION, BANDORA, VIHUELA, ARCHLUTE, CHITARRONE AND THEORBO. 1732 Majer, Joseph Friedrich Bernhard Caspar, Museum musicum theoretico practicum, das ist: Neu-eröffneter theoretisch- und practischer Music-Saal...treatise with tuning chart for the 11-course lute in French tablature . 15 February 2023.