Hermann Maier Lund: family and friends

From Ulm, Württemberg, Germany to Christchurch, New Zealand. First visit? Start at the bottom or here: http://maier-ulm.blogspot.com/2008/08/hermann-maier-introduction.html

Fritz Carr (Cahn)

Fritz Carr (Cahn) was born on 30 January 1897 in Frankfurt. He and his younger brother, Hans born 15 May 1900, were the only sons of Hermann's eldest daughter, Paula Maier and her husband Carl Cahn.

In 1923 Fritz completed his medical exams and went to work or further study (Assistenzarzt) at the private gynecology clinic (von Geheimrat) of Professor Dr. Paul Ferdinand Strassmann in Berlin. At most he could have stayed here until the clinic’s last Christmas in 1935.

Strassmann's clinic was opened in 1909 on Schumannstrasse (the building is still standing - images right). In ‘its first decade, only the old university clinics at the Charité under Karl Franz and at the Artilleriestrasse under Ernst Bumm produced as many discoveries as the Strassmann Frauenklinik.’ From 1909 to 1936 15,000 babies were delivered and 25,984 gynecological patients were treated/operated. The facility supervised 56 staff physicians, accommodated 99 volunteer doctors and trained 344 graduate assistants. During these years, 2,183 students completed part of their training there, and 1,331 physicians were enrolled in postgraduate courses in gynecology and obstetrics.

One doctor wrote in retrospect that the clinic was “appreciated as much by the inhabitants of Berlin’s inner city and the poor north as by the wives of foreign industrialists and diplomats… Guest book entries included the most famous gynecologists and surgeons of the world, such as the brothers Mayo of Rochester, Minnesota, who all came to study and marvel at the operative techniques of the director. (p.50).

Strassmann was secretary of the Berlin Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology 1904-1922, Chair in 1925 and a life member in 1926. There is also a German Society for Gynecology (Deutsche Gynäkologische Gesellschaft). In 1906 he received the rank of Titular-professor from the University of Berlin but without formal teaching responsibilities until he became an ausserordentlicher Professor in 1919. In 1923, finally as professor, he was elected to the Senate of the University of Berlin.

In autumn 1927 Paul and his wife made a 9 week trip to the US. In 1935 his son, Erwin Strassman, received a year’s non-clinical / observer work at the Mayo clinic (Erwin was paid an honorarium of $840 or $70 a month). The correspondence said: it was illegal to employ any alien before arrival in the US. Minnesota was not one of the fourteen states (plus DC) cited where a prior year of US residency was not required before granting a medical license.

Could Fritz have also gone to the U.S. to work?

References from: The Strassmanns: Science, Politics, and Migration in Turbulent Times, 1793-1993 by W. Paul Strassmann. Edition: illustrated. Published by Berghahn Books, 2008. Originally published as W. Paul Strassmann: Die Strassmanns. Schicksale einer deutsch-jüdischen Familie über zwei Jahrhunderte.

Graves - Germany

Four families were allowed to settle in Laupheim in 1730. There is no evidence of when the cemetery was established. The chewra kaddisha was established in 1748 and the oldest existing gravestone dates from 1761.

Some of Hermann's mother's family are buried here: his mother Sophie Maier (née Gugenheim b. 22 June 1822 d. 10 October 1848 aged 26), his maternal grandmother, Sophie Gugenheim (née Lämmle whom our records name as Charlotte b. 3 February 1789 d. 26 December 1838 aged 49) and his uncle, Samuel.

Related records show that Sophie had three other children who did not survive -- Eugen Isaac (1843), Anonymus (1845) and Anonyma (1848). The death register states that Sophie Maier died of gynecological illness 10 weeks after this stillborn daughter. Hermann was one year old, his brother, Gustav, four years old and their father 35 years old.

Saturday Afternoon Concert 1880

Mr. H.M. LUND'S
SATURDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS
---
SECOND CONCERT
PROGRAMME:
1. Quartette, for violin, viola, cello, and piano (Beethoven).
2. Variations on an original Theme in B flat, four hands (Schubert).
3. For the little folk (Schumann)--
a--Hobby Horse
b--Important Event
c--The Horseman's Song
d--Knecht Ruprecht.
4. Songs--
a--"By Dimpled Brook" (Dr Arne)
b--"Orpheus with his lute" (Sullivan).
5. Variations on Mozart's "La oi darem la mano" (Chopin).
6. Three songs without words (Mendelssohn).
7. Marches No. 3, 10, 11, four hands (Schubert)
8. a--The Chase (Rheinberger)
b--Melody (Rubenstein)
c--Carneval di Milan (v. Bülow)
d--Fantaisie impromptu (Chopin)

---

MR LUND'S CONCERT(2)

Saturday afternoon's programme was made up of items generally well known, with one exception. We refer to some extraordinary variations on "La oi darem la mano," by Chopin, of which Schumann wrote enthusiastically when the work was first given to the world. His criticism is said to have made the young composer's reputation. Here it is : "Off with your hats, gentlemen. A genius! With what astonishment we read Opus 2 ! The variations, the finale, the adagio; these are indeed something; genius burns through every measure; but all this is nothing compared to the last. That is the whole of Mozart's finale, popping champagne corks, ringing glasses, Leporello's voice between the grasping torturing demons, the fleeing Don Juan, and then the end that beautifully soothes and closes all ! I bend before Chopin's spontaneous genius, his lofty aim, his mastership." A work spoken of in such fashion by such competent authority, certainly ought to be made familiar to those who desire to cultivate their musical taste. For that reason its selection by Mr Lund deserves to be applauded as much as his fine performance of it, which would have been more effective had he enjoyed the advantage of a full sized grand piano. A quartette of Beethoven's was announced, but could not be given on account of a lamentable accident to one of the gentlemen who was to have taken a leading part in it. Mr Lund substituted the "Russian variations" of the same composer, playing them with great delicacy and taste. A noble air and variations of Schubert, and three marches of the same copmoser, gave us some excellent four-handed performances by Messrs Landargan, and Lund and the rest of the piano-forte music (by Mr Lund alone) comprised some of the "songs without words," four most masterly movements by Schumann, entitled, "For the little folk," and selections from Chopin, Rubinstein, Rheinberger, and others. Mr Lund's musician like ability was, of course, as usual, conspicuous. A very pleasant feature of the afternoon was Miss Taylor's singing of two songs -- Dr Arne's "By dimpled brook," a composition worthy of that English classic, and one of Arthur Sullivan's very best songs, "Orpheus with his lute." The rendering of both was, it is needless to say, extremely graceful and artistic.

(1)
Second concert with the assistance of Miss Ada Sinclair Taylor, Mr. A. Landergan, and Three Gentlemen Amateurs. To be given at St. Michael's Schoolroom, TO-DAY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, At Four o'clock. Doors open at 3.30; carriages at 5.30. Tickets - One Shilling. To be had at Mr. Thompson's and at the doors. From Lyttelton Times Saturday 27 November, 1880
(2) Monday, 29 November 1880

Lectures 1885



Mr. H.M. LUND'S SECOND LECTURE (1)
A Progressive System of Tuition, Chief Faults in Piano Playing, Touch, Impending Discoveries.
---
MR. LUND'S LECTURE(2) - In his lecture last night Mr Lund gave the outlines of a rational system of tuition of pianoforte pupils, and spoke at length on the traning of the ear, practice and fingering, the treatment of the pedal, &c. He enumerated the most common defects of execution, and detailed the numerous varieties of touch, supplementing his remarks with illustrations on the pianoforte.
---

(1) St. Michael's Schoolroom, Monday, Nov. 23 at 8pm. Tickets 2s each. Lecture, at Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs', and Messrs Simpson and Williams. . From: Lyttelton Times, Monday 23 November 1885
(2) Lyttelton Times, Tuesday 24 November 1885

Graves - New Zealand


Hermann & Kitty and Mary Ellen Lund, Waimairi Cemetery Christchurch
H.M. Lund 1848 - 1932 'In musicis divinia cernebat'
Kitty died at sea after leaving London on 4 February 1937.

Therese Lund, Linwood Cemetery Christchurch
















Tufts University: Latin Tools

Invercagill & the Organ 1881

H.M. Lund was appointed organist for St. John's Episcopalian Church in 1881. The appointment was published in the Otago Witness and the Southland Times in December. The date which Lund took up the position is not stated.

According to HM's obituary 'He visited Auckland and Wellington before coming to Christchurch; and although he found this city the most congenial, he was forced to leave on account of severe attacks of rheumatism, and settled in Invercargill. After a time, however, he returned to Christchurch and began the teaching of piano and singing, which he continued to within a year of his death.' (1)

Photo: HM's daughter Kitty - unknown location and date.

Nearly 70 years after his appointment, HM's granddaughter, visiting her grandmother in Christchurch, when she was nine years old (1949), remembers '
porridge in the mornings, deep white frost and getting up early in the morning to play grandfather's organ in the freezing cold (and getting my foot caught in the pedal as it was a pedal organ)'.

(1)
The Christchurch Times, Monday 7 March 1932
The Organ and Its Music in German-Jewish Culture: Oxford University Press (abstract)

New Zealand Population 1874 - 1923

Dunedin was the largest city in New Zealand in 1870 with a population of 14,000. By 1878, Dunedin had grown to 22,525 people. There were 18,953 in Wellington, 13,758 in Auckland and 12,370 in Christchurch(1). By the beginning of the 20th century, the North Island had overtaken the South Island as the most populous island.

The city where Hermann last lived in Germany,
Hamburg, reached a population of 800,000 in the mid-19th century – 50 years before the entire population of New Zealand would reach this level.

"Germany has supplied us with more immigrants than any other country of continental Europe."(2)

Census Population 1874 - 1921


The table above shows:
- there was a 'steady stream'(3) of German-born residents in New Zealand from 1840 to 1900, peaking in 1881 (during the "Great Migration" 1871-1885);
- Germans maintained their concentration in the pool of foreign-born residents up until 1906 but overall the total number of aliens decreased significantly - due to general population growth, reduced assisted migration, the "Depression" (1885- 1900) and Naturalisation.

Aliens (non-British foreign-born residents) were always able to work in New Zealand although they could not hold public office. In 1870, m
ost of the civil rights of British subjects, including the ability to own property but excluding the ability to vote in parliamentary elections, were granted in the first Aliens Act. In 1917 an Alien's Registration Act was introduced and continued until 1923.

H.M. Lund
registered as an Alien in 1917 (Vol.2) and no Naturalisation Record has been found.

(1) (2) (3) From Europe to NZ: an account of our continental settlers by R.A. Lochore. Reed, Wellington, 1951
Current estimate of resident population in New Zealand
German Population

Society of Musicians (est. 1891)

Christchurch was fond of musical organisations(1) but most were short-lived. The Christchurch Musical Society and an organisation focused on the 'advancement of music and musicians' were the exceptions. The centenary history publication(2) on the Canterbury Society of Musicians stated that 'Lund was credited at the time of his death in 1932 (in his mid eighties) as the founder of the Society' and up until the Society's formation 'it was clear that Lund was the leader in any discussions by, or on behalf of, musicians in the city'. This is the newspaper account(3) of the first meeting at which the organisation's constitution was adopted in 1891:-

The first general meeting of the Canterbury Society of Musicians took place at the Girls’ Friendly Society’s rooms on Saturday night [25/07]. There was a good attendance of members, and some visitors were present. The President, Mr. Lund, occupied the chair, and was supported by Messrs Hunt, Normington, Searell, Wallace and Wells, members of the Council, Mr. Searell acting as Secretary. Aplogies were read from Messrs G.F. Tendall and A.J. Merton, and from Mr. Sidney Wolff, of Timaru.

The Chairman welcomed and congratulated members, and state that with few exceptions the best known musicians of the district had joined the Society, which had already enrolled between forty and fifty ladies and gentlemen. He expressed great satisfaction at Mr. Tendall’s taking his seat on the Council. After reviewing the past work of the Council and its successful activity, Mr. Lund said he hoped that the Board of Governors would soon establish the Lectureship in Music as a permanent institution, and also that the Council would finally discuss and adopt at an early date the constitution of the proposed examining body. If there were no other inducements to join this Society, the one paragraph of the constitution which stated that an object was “to befriend any musician who stands in need of help,” should, he said, be sufficient to bind the whole profession strongly together. The conduct of musicians towards each other and towards the public, and other prominent features of the constitution, were also touched upon by the Chairman, who said he trusted the Society would promote orchestral classes under able instructors, and altogether, by their co-operation, put the art of music into a more satisfactory position in Christchurch. He submitted proposals to establish a reading-room and library, to organize concerts for the Society, and also to give an annual concert for charitable objects, and concluded by expressing the hope that the members would look back with pride and satisfaction upon the day when they pledged themselves to work together, honourably and energetically, for the advancement of music and musicians.

On the motion of Mr. Wells, seconded by Mr. R.T. Searell, it was resolved – “That this meeting confirm the constitution of the Society, as drawn up by the Council.”

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lund and the members of the Council, and the meeting closed.

---

The Society of Musicians was among the first of its kind in New Zealand. H.M. Lund served as the Society's first President (1891-1894) and a further six years as Secretary-Treasurer (1895-1901). A new name for the organisation was adopted in 1895: the Canterbury Society of Professional Musicians. In 1929 the organisation was absorbed into the New Zealand Society of Professional Teachers of Music Canterbury Division Incorporated (4).

(1) Lyttelton Choral Society (1852-1857); Christchurch Harmonic Society (est.1857); Christchurch St. Cecilia Harmonic Society* (1860-1862); Instrumental Society* (1861 only); Mendelssohn Society*; Orchestral Society*; Christchurch Male Voice Choir, Christchurch Liedertafel (1885-1966+); and the Canterbury Vocal Union (est.1860) later Canterbury Musical Union (1862), Christchurch Harmonic Society (1873) and then Christchurch Musical Society (1881), reverting to Christchurch Musical Union (1894-1913), and finally becoming the Royal Christchurch Musical Society in 1920. Organisations with an asterisk* were merged into the original Canterbury Vocal Union and were largely responsible for the successive name changes. From: A Choral Symphony: A short history of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society by Peter D. Barton. Royal Christchurch Musical Society, Christchurch, New Zealand 1985.
(2 & 4)For the Advancement of Music and Musicians: A short centennial history of societies in Christchurch devoted to the well-being of professional teachers of music by John M. Jennings. The Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand, Christchurch Branch 1991. pp.21 & pp.31-2
(3) Society of Musicians, Lyttelton Times, Monday 27 July 1891


Maier Household Ulm

Maier, Isaak Aaron, Kaufm [Kaufman], Hermann's father, listed in the address books of Ulm, 1845, at Beim Barfüßerkirchlein*, nun Lagerhaus.

By 1849 (until 1853) A.J. Maier was listed in Köpfingergaßchen. In 1857 it changed to Beim Kirchlein and 1868 to Munsterstraße. The street names appear to have changed over time but the house and address is the same as the original listing: they are all under A171.

The Maier household is in the upsidedown L on the corner of Beim Kirchle and Köpfingergaße. Gustav refers to the narrow downstairs in his writings when he was apprenticing in the family business. Gustav wrote: "…Firma A. J. Maier "beim Kirchle", das des besten Rufes erfreute…." which says that his father's company was located very near the little church**.

The painting above by
Michael Neher (1798 – 1876, Munich) shows the Maier house in 1839 -- the year before Aaron Isaak Maier arrived in Ulm. Neher's work is said to be in the Biedermeier style featuring detailed and acurate scenes and architecture.

*In southern Germany (Oberschwaben) an appendix of "le" at the end of a noun is used when it is a little, small one. "Kirch-le" means a little church, in Upper-German "Kirchlein".
Barfüßerkirchlein relates to the small church (Barfuesser~) in the street which was destroyed in 1875.
**
The Barfüßer church was called Kirchle because it was a very little church compared to the Münster - even before it was completed in 1890 when the Ulm Münster became the world's tallest church at 161.5m.
Incidentally, the Jewish Quarter of Ulm was not far from here but is a separate location as can still be seen on today's map.
Read more about Ulm or here

Gustav Maier's visit to New Zealand

Click on the images to enlarge

Gustav Maier

Hermann's older brother.

1844 born in Ulm am Weinhof.
1850 entered elementary school, Ulm.
1852 entered non-classical secondary school (Realschule).
1855 transfered to grammar school (Gymnasium).
1857 confirmation in the Ulm Synagogue and entered Philanthropic School, Frankfurt am Main.
1860-70 apprentice, traveller and soon confidential clerk
in father’s wholesale firm, A.J. Maier, Ulm.
1870 took over A.J. Maier.
1872 married Regina Friedländer in Bromberg.
1876–81 manager Deutsche Reichsbank, Ulm; made the acquaintance of Einstein family.
1881–91 director Reichsbank, Frankfurt/Main.
1886 co-founded
Frankfurt Peace Union, first director and treasurer until 1892.
1891–95 lived in Ermatingen, CH; withdrew from active business to dedicate himself to writing and educating on social and economi
c issues.
1895–1923 lived in Z
ürich; director of own bank and Brann department store.
1895 assisted Einstein in attempt to enter the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH); arranged Einstein’s stay with Winteler family in Aarau.
1896–1900 visited at home by Einstein while a student at ETH.
1896 co-founded Swiss Ethical Culture Society & editor of its periodical until 1919.
1898 published
his most influential work Soziale Bewegungen und Theorien bis zur modernen Arbeiterbewegung (nine editions).
1900–1914 active in Z
ürich Peace Union; gave numerous lectures on economic benefits of peace.
1923 died in Zürich on 10th March.

Unpublished autobiography: "Siebzig Jahre politischer Erinnerungen und Gedanken," December 1918 held at the Stadtarchiv Zurich
The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Volume 1: The Early Years, 1879-1902. (English translation supplement) Albert Einstein (Translated by Anna Beck, Peter Havas, Consultant) on Google Books
Similar extract links in pdf (1) & (2)
Tracing back the sources of Albert Einstein's political convictions: the movement for Ethical Culture (pdf) by Dr. K. Steinmüller
Einstein and Oppenheimer: The Meaning of Genius by Silvan S. Schweber on Google Books.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Library, Zürich Letter from Albin Herzog to Gustav Maier, 25.9.1895 (pdf) and a description of Einstein's scripts in the library
New York Times article Einstein revealled as brilliant in youth and review of Einstein in Love

The Life and Times of Sir Julius von Haast

Fifty years after H.M. arrived in New Zealand he wrote that Sir Julius had "convinced him to stay". Sir Julius* was an important figure in early Canterbury and a notable German-born resident. The following excerpts, from the biography written and published by Sir Julius' son, H.F. von Haast, in Christchurch 1948, provide a window onto the town into which H.M. found himself.

CHAPTER LIX (pp.805 - 807)

The Opening of the Great Hall 1877 and 1878
The year 1877… saw the first flood-lighting in New Zealand. The next year, 1878, saw the opening of the semi-final additions to the Museum, including the great Mammal Room; the first train run from Christchurch to Dunedin; and it heard the first telephone transmission in New Zealand.

Christchurch 1878
In 1878, Christchurch was beginning to assume the semblance of a city. The new Customs, Telegraph, and Post Office at the corner of Cathedral Square was approaching completion. The Cathedral walls were up about 23ft. in height, six columns of the nave were up with portions of the arches that rested on them. The trees were being felled in Cathedral Square, and a gum tree fifteen years old and 80ft. high was bought down; sycamores and birches were left. Brick shops and offices were going up in the principal streets.

Over 600,000 young trees were ready for planting out – oaks, ashes, sycamores, birches, planes, and pines – but the pheasants, sparrows, greenfinches, and chaffinches were taking great toll of the seedlings. The walk extending along the east side of the West Belt had been completed from the Riccarton Hotel to Wood’s bridge between the avenue of trees.

Asphalting was proceeding along Worcester Street towards the College and the Museum, the approach to which the future would be “not so dusty”.

But the drainage of Christchurch was in a parlous state, as disclosed by Mr. Clark, M.I.C.E., who reported upon it, and submitted to the District Drainage Board a scheme for pumping the sewage on to 400 acres of sandhills, and using it for the purposes of irrigation, which was eventually carried into operation.

The population in the city was now 12,370, in the suburbs 10,000: total, 22,370. The drainage works were confined to the street channels and a long outfall sewer, partly open, partly covered, to the Estuary 4 3/4 miles long.

Faecal (sic) matter was collected from about half of the houses in the city by the pan system. In the other parts of the city and suburbs, cesspits were holes in the earth without lining of any kind to prevent the saturation of the surrounding soil with filth.

The prominent feature in this connection as affecting the public health was the water-logged site of Christchurch. Over a large area of the city, especially in winter, water was met with at from 4ft. to a few inches only below the surface of the ground; and at Waltham during the winter-time the water was stagnant on the surface. The imperfect removal of the filth was a growing evil, the exhalation from a very damp soil abundantly present; and the combination of the causes of mischief was a present question that could not be deferred for future consideration. The drainage works should lower the level of saturation. Neither the river nor the estuary should be polluted by the discharge of sewage. The solution was the pumping scheme suggested.

The railway, the telegraph, gas, and electricity had come to Christchurch already. It was now the turn of the telephone. Mr. Meddings, the Government Inspector of Telegraphs, had made some primitive instruments and experimented with them. As he required absolute quiet near the instruments in view of their delicate sensibility, Haast gave him the use of the Museum on Sunday, February 10, 1878, when the South Island telegraph was idle. Operators were stationed at Lyttelton, nine miles, Southbridge, thirty-two miles, Dunedin, two hundred and fifty miles, and Cromwell, three hundred and fifty miles distant. The thrill of the special reporter when he heard, first a wee coo-ee in his ear, and then every note of a flute from Cromwell, can be easily imagined.

The educational institutions were now housed in those old-world picturesque Gothic buildings that are the pride of Christchurch.

Music and Entertainment 1877 (pp.813)
With their usual good nature, Haast and his wife lent a helping hand to a German musician just arrived in Christchurch, Mr. H. M. Lund, a fine pianist, if somewhat exuberant and extravagant in execution, who became a well-known teacher and was musical critic of the Press for many years, his critiques, clearly the work of a musical expert with artistic taste and a felicitous gift of expression, being one of the features of that journal. At a concert given by
Lund on September 13, 1877, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, the first of many, Haast, who was “in fine voice,” sang Beethoven’s “Mignon,” while Mrs. Von Haast played with Lund Schumann’s duets, “Wreathing Garlands,” “Ringdance,” and “At the Fountain”. The only exception taken to them was that of the soldier to the sausage, “They were too short”. Mrs. von Haast took lessons from Lund for several years, and improved wonderfully under his tuition.

… Haast and Lund were associated again on December 20, when the Christchurch Musical Union gave a performance of Haydn’s “Creation”. Lund was at the piano, there being no orchestra. Haast was among the bass soloists.

---

CHAPTER LXI : The Early 'Eighties (pp.839-840)

In the early ‘eighties Christchurch was a civilized city. The nave and aisles of the Cathedral had been completed, the tower and spire erected, the bells placed in position and rung; and what a din they made! A Cathedral School was to be established to train choir boys for the Cathedral.

But the Anglicans were not having it all their own way, for the Synagogue was erected. Tramway lines had been completed to Papanui and Sydenham, and that by the Ferry Road to Sumner was in course of construction. Old wooden shops were being replaced by large handsome buildings; the Loan and Mercantile building, 47ft. high, was being constructed of Hoon Hay stone.

A crowded meeting clamoured for a Canterbury and Westland Grand Trunk railway via the Hurunui and Cannibal Gorge.

In the Provincial Council Chamber, the degree of M.A. was for the first time conferred upon a woman in the British Empire, Miss Helen Connon, who was later to marry Professor Macmillan Brown.

John Ollivier on his seventieth birthday received handsome silver-plated gifts and a purse of 750 sovereigns.

Clark’s sewerage scheme for separating the sewage from the surface water and carrying it by pipes to the pumping station at New Brighton sandhills for filtration and absorption, was completed; and many houses were connected with the sewers.

Business men had connected up their premises with the telephone.

The refrigerating process was enabling sheep-farmers to export the carcasses as well as the wool of their sheep, and to make “Canterbury lamb” famous.

* HAAST, Sir Johann Franz Julius von, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. (1822–1887) -- Geologist and explorer.
Julius von Haast was born and educated in Bonn, Germany. He first came to New Zealand in 1858 and soon began mapping the West Coast where he discovered coal and gold. He was quickly appointed Provincial Geologist and 'played an active part in the intellectual life of Christchurch' including founding the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury (1862) and Canterbury Museum (1870), co-founding Canterbury Collegiate Union (1872) and as a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand (1880–87).
Read his full biography: 'HAAST, Sir Julius von, K.C.M.G., F.R.S.' from An Encyclopedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - updated 18/09/07
Also see
Haast and the Haast Pass linking South Westland and Wanaka, Otago and the Franz Josef Glacier.

Lohse-Bowen School 1879-1909

Miss Johanna Lohse established a private day and boarding school ‘for the higher education of gentlemen’s daughters’ in 1879 and began teaching in the fall (March/April in New Zealand) of 1880.

Mrs. Annette Bowen took over the school in 1890 after her husband, Mr. Croasdaile Bowen B.D., Archdeacon of Christchurch, died and she had to find alternative means to support her family. She ran the school until 1909 and it eventually became St. Margaret’s.

The school was first located in Riccarton and later in the central city on Armagh Street. It had four classrooms and an average of 90 students - from the first years after kindergarten to matriculation (university entrance) - including Mrs. Bowen’s own.

“The great aim of the school is to assist girls prepare themselves for home life in the future by self-discipline and by the cultivation of sensible interests which can be pursued in after life…” From: Upper Riccarton Cemetery 2007 p.14-16.

‘Mr Lund and Miss Violet Ward were a great strength to me in the early days, the former, I rejoice to say is still teaching in the school…’ From the Lohse-Bowen School Newsletters (No 1: 24.05.1902) held at the Anglican Church Archives in Christchurch until 2007

These newsletters, as well as the full register of pupils completed in 1905, also show HM Lund’s children attended the school:
  • No 1: 24.05.1902: Prize List 1901: M. Lund – arithmetic
  • No. 3 24.05.1904: Visiting teacher: Mr. Lund and Mrs. Simms (pupil of Mr. Lund); Prize List 1903: Margaret Lund – Drawing
  • No. 4 24.05.1905: Visiting teacher: Mr. Lund; Girls who have come: Kitty Lund
  • No. 5 24 May 1906: Visiting teachers: Mr. Lund; Prize List 1905: Kitty Lund – English, French and Old Girls’ Prize
  • No. 6 August 1907: Visiting teachers: Mr. Lund; Prize List 1907: Kitty Lund – Class Prize; Girls who have left: M. Lund
  • No. 7 Bowen School Magazine 23/05/1908 265 Armagh Street: Visitng staff: Mr. Lund
  • No. 8 24/05/1909: Visiting staff: Music – Mr. Lund [and others]; Prize List: Kitty Lund – Class prize
Elsie's attendance was listed in the Register but no dates attributed.
Dorothy, the youngest daughter, attended Cashmere school followed by Girls High.

Pupils taught by H.M. Lund included:
Muriel Cocks; Ida Cowlishaw; Misses Craig, Follie, Goodson, Gresson, Harris, Malet, and Maunsell; Elsie Ross; Ruth Studholme; Miss Townend and Rosa Townend; Misses Walker and Wilson (x2).
Taranaki Herald article on Lohse's book on the Education of Girls, 1885
Lohse-Bowen School archives are now held at St. Margaret's College

Obituary Tributes

Dr. J. C. Bradshaw in The Press
...Mr. Lund’s life has been a fruitful one, and the good he has done for music in New Zealand will continue to grow and ever bear more fruit.
...As a critic and writer there is no doubt whatever that his efforts in the cause of art were of great worth. Impatient of anything savouring of superficiality or mere display he would, if he felt the occasion demanded it, speak out with fearless voice. His ink, however, was well mixed with the milk of human kindness, and the writer of these unworthy notes often felt, as others must have felt, that he was, if anything, too generous in appreciation. If he deemed the effort sincere there was no lack of encouragement, and this kindly spirit must have meant much to our younger performers. His great gift as a writer in an adopted language was a source of wonder to many of us; his was the pen of the ready writer. No one reading his valuable contributions to The Press could fail to recognize the open, and indeed youthful, mind which inspired his writing.

Ernest Empson in The Press
But what transcended the purely personal impressions was the feeling that in meeting him one was in contact with a remarkable personality, who represented the line of the great German musical tradition. It seemed incredible to me then, as it does still after many years of reflection and experience, that so great a talent should, be the grace of God, have been led to these shores. There must be many besides myself who will ever be grateful for this strange whim of fate… he brought to New Zealand the quintessence of the romantic school at the very height of its flowering.
Studying with Mr. Lund meant not only the disciplining of hand, eye and ear in the art of pianism, but a wonderful revelation of music’s power; of its address direct to the soul through the noblest emotions. Only those privileged to know him in the heyday of his prime can have any idea of his lion-like energy and the special force of his inspirations. So remarkable were gifts that one felt in his playing the evocation of the genius of the composer. As for his touch, in all my experience on the Continent I have not heard it surpassed for its exquisite beauty and sensitiveness.

Written by The Press
It is our melancholy duty this morning to announce the death of Mr. H. M. Lund, our greatly loved writer on music. Mr. Lund came to Christchurch more than fifty years ago, after a period of preparation that made his arrival in any part of New Zealand a most surprising and beneficent accident. Now that he is dead an era, as Dr. Bradshaw points out, dies with him. For it is not merely that he had known Brahms, von Bulow and Wagner, listened frequently to Rubinstein and Liszt, and been finished off as a player by Madame Schumann. He inherited and as long as he lived expressed and passed on, a tradition that dominated European music for 150 years, and it is impossible now that his place should be filled. It is not even possible to wish it to be filled, however poor we feel without him. For a man of talent who lives to his eighty-fifth year, working almost to his last day, is like a tree that lives till it tops the forest and then suddenly falls; and Mr. Lund had more than talent. He had personality and character, and if he had lived what the world calls clumsily a life of action, or devoted himself to other branches of the life of the spirit, languages or letters, or philosophy, or science, he would still have been remarkable. Just how remarkable he was in the sphere that he did choose is sufficiently indicated in the tributes of Dr. Bradshaw and Mr. Empson; but there is one word that we may be permitted to add ourselves. Dr. Bradshaw says, and it could not be better said, that our columns in future will be “sadly the poorer in the absence of “his enlightened wisdom.” We can go further and say that criticism will be poorer by the loss of a talent for saying, in an adopted language, what has never in New Zealand yet been so well said in any language, and can seldom, in such narrow limits of space and time, have been so well said anywhere. It was a gift that was part and parcel of a rare mind and a rarer character, and it remained to the end.

Short biographies of E Empson & JC Bradshaw can be read in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

Music in Christchurch - Extracts

Thesis by Helen Watson c. 1948, University of New Zealand

Private Teaching (pp.192)
…The last twenty years of the 19th century constituted a particularly fertile period of musical instruction, and for this four men in particular were responsible. These were H.M. Lund, H. Wells, G. F Tendall, and F. M. Wallace.

Herman (sic) Maier Lund was the first of these to arrive in Christchurch, and he began teaching pianoforte and singing here, towards the end of 1877, at the age of thirty. He provided a link with many musical activities abroad, for he studied at the Royal Academy, Stuttgart, and completed his studies under Clara Schumann. In Germany he had been acquainted with Brahms, von Bülow, and Wagner and had often heard Liszt and Rubinstein play. In England he had made the friendship of Charles Hallé. Lund continued teaching until about 1930, and many of the best Christchurch pianists have studied with him. His pupils include Ernest Empson, Alfred J. Merton, Charles E. Tendall (son of George F. Tendall, organist and lecturer in music at the University), Constance Lingard, Katie Young, Lance Lewin, and Minnie Vartha. A large number of the pianoforte teachers in Christchurch at the opening of this century had been his pupils. Lund was also well known for his fine solo pianoforte recitals, and the piano and violin music which he played with Wallace. His last recital was given in 1930 when he was eighty-three years of age.

Musical Criticism (pp.219)
…But, in general, one might say that the musical criticism in Christchurch did not begin until Lund commenced his critical work in connection with the “Press”. Articles under his pen-name “Strad” began to appear on the literary pages of the “Press” before 1900. In 1905 he became the regular music-critic of that paper, and continued as such until his death in 1932. No musical critic in Christchurch since Lund, has been so widely accepted and appreciated.

Teacher of Music

Soon after arriving in NZ to settle, H.M. Lund began teaching piano and singing in Christchurch.

According to a thesis by Helen Watson (Music in Christchurch, unpublished, 1948), H.M. Lund's private piano pupils included: Ernest Empson; Lance Lewin; Constance Lingard; Alice Maunder; Alfred J. Merton (1857-1931); Charles E. Tendall (son of George); Minnie Vartha and Katie Young. He also taught Alice May Brodie singing. Other students included: Miss Beatrice Vartha(1), Mrs. von Haast(2) and Mrs. Simms(3).

As well as private tuition, HM taught at Miss. Johanne Lohse's school, which became Mrs. Croasdaile Bowen's school late in 1890 and H.M. entered into its staff.

Tuition was given at a number of locations during his lifetime including Armagh, Gloucester, High, Kilmore and Montreal Streets in the city.

He was also the founder and first president (1891 - 1894) of the Canterbury Society of Musicians. In 1895, this organisation became the Canterbury Society of Professional Musicians, for which H.M. was the Secretary / Treasurer 1895 - 1901. In 1897, it was incorporated as such under the Unclassified Societies Act.

H.M. Lund's daughter, Katherine, was also a pianiste and teacher. She was a pupil of Alfred Bunz and in 1932 worked from a studio at 141 Cashel Street, Christchurch. In 1924, H.M. writes in a family letter that Kitty is playing at Crystal Palace which may have been as part of
the 27 members that made up the orchestra conducted by Alfred Bunz - 'one of the best'(4).

(1) The Cyclopedia of New Zealand
Volume 6. Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Wellington Provincial Districts. Published 1908
(2) The Life and Times of Sir Julius von Haast by H.F. von Haast, Christchurch 1948
(3) Bowen School Newsletters
(4) 'CINEMA', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 18-Sep-2007

Fifty Years of Music

When Christchurch Was Very Young
By H.M. Lund

Looking backwards, one’s long years shrink mercifully. I can hardly believe it is 50 years since I walked desolately up town, from the old railway station through rows of weather-worn shanties composing Madras street. In its inner area the town has not changed greatly save for better buildings and the finished Cathedral. Ballantyne’s and Strange’s were even then the Meccas of the ladies. Landing in Auckland I proposed to investigate in each centre my prospects for a professional career. Auckland was stricken by the aftermath of one of its periodical gold-gambles; Wellington housed an apparently unprofitable congregation of Civil Servants. As I sat that first morning at a piano in Spensley’s music shop, in walked Sir Julius von Haast and decided there and then that I was to remain in Christchurch. I was hardly consulted in the matter, but I meekly obeyed.

It would be unjust to say that Christchurch in those days lived in its musical infancy. An active Harmonic Society did very fair work, producing standard oratorios and cantatas. Mr. Robert Parker was the leading musician and conductor. Commanded by the indefatigable Major Lean, who even copied the band-parts himself, a rough and ready group of instrumentalists assiduously delivered fierce music at odd times but counted also some very good players as members. But the most active force in advancing musical culture was to be found in a circle of influential families: the Harpers, Loughnans, Marshmans, Haasts, and Inglises, to name only a few. That reminds me that Mr. H.H. Loughnan is probably the only amateur musician who has carried his ‘cello into every orchestral combine requiring service, from then to the present day, more than 50 years. Some names, like Bunz, father and his gifted son, Alfred, and the Bonnington descendants still are always before us. Among the early singers held in high esteem may be mentioned Miss Ada Taylor, Mr. W. Izard, Mr. Appleby, and the father of our Mr. H.S. Hobbs, now equally appreciated. The Rowleys, of whom Mrs. Forrester is one, were a family of singers all, and a power in the land.

In fairly close succession afterwards arrived a number of very able musicians, Mr. H. Wells, Mr. G. F. Tendall, Mr. Davis Hunt, and Mr. F. M. Wallace. With the Cathedral services under Mr. Wells and Mr. Tendall church music moved to a higher plane: under Wallace’s skilful direction the Orchestral Society achieved astounding progress. The very first concert presenting a Haydn Symphony was a revelation of what can be done even with budding amateurs. Mr. Wells brought out some good vocalists like Mr. Puschell and Mr. A. L. Joseph and certainly laid the foundation to Mr. Sidney Williamson’s subsequent artistic prominence. For many years past Mr. George March has figured among our best baritones. It still amuses me to recall the denunciation hurled at me when I used to give frequent recitals, “He wants to ram his classical music down our throats.” All the same, I proceeded with the ramming.

Teaching for some years involved hard labour to the breakdown point: later on with the increase of qualified teachers, and the influence of the examining bodies from Home, a fair standard could be maintained.

Visiting artists came to us not in great numbers, but of a very high type. Among them may be noted Wilhelmj, the violinist of unrivalled tone power; Vogrich, a capricious but exquisite pianist; Santley, the famous baritone, and Madame Patey, a wonderful contralto. Several opera companies brought variety and enjoyment, including the Simonsens and a German troupe giving chiefly Wagner operas. Some New Zealanders also returned form study abroad, proving their success, like Mr. Sydney Hoben.

Confining myself to the earlier decades, I grieve to say that of all the gifted musicians of that period only a few are still alive and active: Mr. Robert Parker in Wellington, and Messrs A. J. Merton and Davis Hunt here. Dr. Bradshaw, with his 25 years’ residence, and Mr. Firth, Mr. Worsley, and Mr. Gunter, with much less, must be still regarded as new chums.

Some humours experiences may yet be added. When the fleet anchoring in the Timaru roadstead was wrecked, I organised a concert in aid of the sailors. It seemed appropriate to ask for their contribution of some sea-chanties by their reputed singers. Such screeching, groaning, and shouting as it resulted in was never heard before. Another disaster in very truth it proved for many of the audience decamped.

Another laughable incident. Conducting an orchestral practice down south, I pointed out, most politely to be sure, that the brasses drawn from a prize band were apt to drown the rest of the body. Nothing was said, but suddenly at the concert these miscreants burst out in a perfect orgy of blast. Furiously I knocked over the nearest desk with my baton, the conspirators were cowed, and the situation was saved.

After all, a musician’s life has its compensations – sometimes.

The Press, Christchurch, 15 August, 1927
Image: Corner of Cashel (L) and High (R) Streets c.1800. Spensley & Co is visible middle left.
Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Collection

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

A record of "the Colony" at the turn of the 20th Century can be glimpsed in the six volumes of The Cyclopedia. However, it was not compiled by a team of researchers - individuals and organisations paid to be included and supplied the information. Several errors are apparent in H.M. Lund's listing including the spelling of Maier, his year of birth (1847) and year of arrival (1877).

LUND, Hermann Maire (1)
Teacher of Music, Piano and Singing, 155 Montreal Street. Mr. Lund was born in 1848 and educated in Stuttgart. He studied music under Speidel [image right] and Stark, and subsequently under Carl Tausig in Berlin. Mr. Lund practiced his profession as a teacher for some years in North Germany, and was engaged also for several concert tours in various parts of Europe. In 1878 he arrived in Auckland by the ship “Lombardian,” and soon afterwards settled in Christchurch, where h
e has since been active as a teacher. Mr. Lund has given many successful concerts and recitals in New Zealand. He is the senior member of the Christchurch profession, and was promoter of the Society of Professional Musicians, of which he was first president for many years.

H.M. Lund 's biography, compiled between 1951-1964 for The G.R. Macdonald Dictionary on Canterbury pioneers, adds the specific detail that he 'got his musical education at the Royal Academy of Music, Stuttgart' (2). Most likely Macdonald obtained this detail from the 1948 thesis by Watson or her (unknown) source, or made an assumption as Speidel and Stark were two founders of the Conservatory.

(1) The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Volume 3 Canterbury edition 1903 (pp 96 & 231).
(2) G.R. Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies, Canterbury Museum, New Zealand.

A Celebrated Pianist's Busy "Holiday"

In this article about Mr. Wilhelm Bachaus and Mr. Kugel (no first name given), described as "the genial Viennese concert manager who has engineered Bachaus' European tours for a few years past...", there are two paragraphs that refer to Mr. Lund.

"'Sold-out houses the rule' is the heading which one large Australian paper bestows upon a report of his tour. 'To hear Bachaus once is one's undoing, one cannot stay away', is the significant comment of Dr. Lund, critic of the Christchurch Press, who ventured the bold statement that Bachaus' interpretation of Liszt 'compared well with Liszt's own'.
His meeting with this eminent critic, Bachaus cherishes among his most precious memories. Dr. Lund, a native of Germany, is now eighty years old and a revered figure in Australia, and Bachaus describes the entrance of this quaint old gentleman into his green room as one of the proudest and most touching moments of his career. Dr. Lund studied with Liszt for many years, knew him well, he heard him play hundreds of times; how valuable must be Dr. Lund's verdict that this pianist's performance of Liszt's music was equal to that of the master himself! Brahms, too, counted among the friends of Dr. Lund's youth, and Bachaus' playing of the Paganini Variations equalled that of the composer, in Dr. Lund's opinion."

Musical Courier, New York, 14 April 1927 Vol. 94, no. 15, p.8
Image: Wilhelm Backhaus 1960s

In fact, the concert attended by H.M. Lund was most likely in New Zealand as H.M. would have traveled little at 80 years old. As well, The Oxford History of New Zealand Music by John Mansfield Thomson (Auckland, New Zealand, Oxford University Press, 1991, p.143) records that: In 1926 Wilhelm Backhaus arrived with his own piano and his famous piano stool, which was fitted with a spirit level to make it adjustable to any stage.

Hermann's Family

H.M. LUND was born in Ulm am Weinhof an der Donau, Württemberg, Germany on 16 August, 1847.

His parents were Aaron Eisig MAIER (b.14.07.1813 Archshofen Jaxtthal, Württemberg d.19.04.1874 Ulm) and Sophie GUGENHEIM b.22.06.1822 Hechingen, Württemberg. d.10.10.1848 Ulm). They were married around 1842 in Ulm.

His paternal grandparents were: Eisig MAIER (b.22.01.1779 Archshofen, Württemberg. d.20.08.1817 Archshofen) and Edel LÖW (b.Germany d.05.11.1861 Ernsbach, Württemberg).

His maternal grandparents were: Seligmann GUGENHEIM (b.21.12.1789 Hechingen d.13.07.1857 Ulm) and Charlotte LÄMMLE (b.03.02.1789 Kriegshaber bei Augsburg d.26.12.1838 Laupheim).

His parents had one previous child before his mother died: Gustav MAIER (b.06.09.1844 Ulm, Württemberg d.10.03.1923 Zürich, CH). On 8 May 1872 in Bromberg, Posen, Germany, Gustav married Regina Johanna FRIEDLÄNDER (b.16.02.1853 Wollstein, Posen. d.30.03.1936 Zürich). They had three children: Johann Hans Wolfgang (b.26.07.1882) Johann Arthur (b.15.02.1875 Ulm) and Paul Ernst (b. 05.09.1873 Ulm).

Hermann and Gustav also had three half-siblings following the death of their mother and their father's subsequent marriage to Bertha RÖDER (b.22 May 1829 Ansbach, Bayern) in February, 1853. Therese, Julius and Julie were all born in Ulm.

On the 31 May 1874 in Berlin, Brandenberg, Königreich, Preußen, Hermann married Regina's younger sister, Goldine Wally Hedwig FRIEDLÄNDER (b.15.11.1854 Wollstein d.01.07.1923 Frankfurt). They had one child: Paula Mathilde Sophie (b.17.06.1875 Hamburg). In Frankfurt, on April 16, 1896 she married Carl CAHN (b.28.09.1864 Worms) and they had two boys Fritz (b.30.01.1897) and Hans (b.15.05.1900). The family is said to have changed their name to CARR in 1914 and possibly moved to America.

After immigrating to New Zealand in 1877, it is possible H.M. married Therese WAGENER (b.1862 Hamburg;
arrived in NZ in 1883; d.04.05.1889 aged 27, Christchurch - daughter of Joseph and Bertha) with whom, in 1885, he had a daughter, Elsie. She was three years old when her mother died.

A year later, on 29 April, 1890, H.M. married Mary Ellen "Nellie" DIX (b.1865 Waltham, Christchurch, New Zealand d.31.10.1958 Christchurch - daugh
ter of John Cooper DIX and Mary Ann WARNER) at St. Lukes Church in Christchurch.

Together they had six children: Margarethe "Margaret" (b.1892 m. William WRATHER), Katherine "Kitty" (b.07.09.1894 d. at sea February 1937), Eric (b.1896 m. Esme Linda GRIERSON), Dorothy (b.1899 m. Robert B. THOMPSON), Ernst Siegfried (b.1902 m. Lorna Mildred TAYLOR) and Gustav Reginald "Reg" (b.1909 m. Melva HAIGH).

H.M. Lund died in Christchurch, New Zealand on 5 March, 1932.

First New Zealand Concert - 13 September 1877

Mr. Lund's Concert

A concert was given at the Oddfellows’ Hall
[image right: Hall being moved from home in Lichfield Street to Sydenham, 1903] last evening by Mr. H. M. Lund. The audience, although select, was unfortunately not large, and peculiarly, therefore, the concert was far from being a success. On this account it is perhaps the more gratifying to be enabled to state that from a musical point of view the entertainment was highly satisfactory.

Mr. Lund has but recently arrived in New Zealand, and his appearance last evening may be accepted as his introduction to the public of Christchurch, amidst whom, we believe he intends to practice his profession as a teacher of music. With the nature of the reception accorded him Mr. Lund has every reason to be gratified, for, at the close of his first piece, Mendelssohn’s concerto for pianoforte in G minor, he had repeatedly to bow his acknowledgments of the enthusiastic and continued applause with which he was greeted, and this notwithstanding the fact that he was placed somewhat at a disadvantage. A grand piano could not be obtained, and he had therefore to use an instrument which, although an undoubtedly good one, was not adapted for such a building as the Oddfellows’ Hall. This defect in the instrument was more particularly noticeable in the concerto referred to, in which the orchestral parts were played by Mr. R. Parker on the harmonium. Mr. Lund played Liszt’s transcriptions of Schubert’s “Faith in Spring” and “Erlking;” Chopin’s polonaise in E flat major, with harmonium accompaniment by Mr. R. Parker; and, with Mrs. von Haast, Schumann’s pianoforte duets, “Wreathing Garlands,” “Ring dance,” and “At the Fountain”. Of the transcriptions of Schubert, the “Faith in Spring” was fully appreciated, and with reference to Schumann’s duets, which formed the closing items, it may be stated that the only thing to which exception could be taken was the brevity of the pieces. There can be but little doubt that Mr. Lund’s abilities as a pianist, his crispness of touch and power of execution, will be fully recognized, and that he will be regarded as a valuable addition to the strength of the musical talent of Christchurch. We have to thank him for producing at his concert a class of music which is not frequently heard in Christchurch, and a greater familiarity with which would do much to elevate the public taste in this respect. Dr. von Haast was in better voice than we remember to have heard him on any previous occasion, and his rendering of Beethoven’s “Mignon” was heartily applauded. Miss Ada S. Taylor contributed two pieces, “With Verdure Clad,” and “Lo! Here the Gentle Lark,” Mr. Wood accompanying the latter with a flute obligato. Miss Taylor sang, as indeed she always does, carefully and artistically, and in a manner that ever winds for her the hearty sympathy of her hearers. Last evening Bishop’s song was her best effort. A pianoforte duet, Mozart’s variations in G minor, was played by two ladies.

Lyttelton Times, 14 September 1877: Amusements

Voyage to New Zealand 1877

Arrival of the Lombardian

The long-looked-for barque Lombardian arrived from England last night, after a passage of 106 days from Portsmouth. She brings one passenger, Mr. Lund, and a large general cargo, including three hundred tons of iron, which has no doubt contributed to lengthen her passage. The Lombardian is a fine iron barque, in build very similar to the Emily Chaplin, which was constructed in the same yard and by the same builders, Messrs Austen and Co., of Sunderland. She is under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Co. Captain Chapman reports leaving London on the 23rd January last, and being towed to the Downs. Bore away and set sail from there, but when off the Isle of Wight a S.E. gale arose, in which the ship behaved very badly. Owing to defective stowage, she refused to ride to the seas at all, but stood as stiff as a rock, receiving each one right over her, and at times making fearful rolls. Finding it impossible to go to sea in this condition, the captain squared away for Portsmouth, where repairs were effected, and a portion of the cargo re-stowed; though not enough of it to satisfy the captain or the crew, many of whom deserted rather than go to sea in her. Fortunately she has enjoyed an exceptionally fine passage; as it was, the masts had to be secured by means of hawsers. The Lombardian made the harbour and dropped anchor in the stream at 8 p.m. yesterday.

Evening Star, Auckland 30 June, 1877
Image: Example of a barque sailing ship
Lombardian in the Miramar Ship Index

Hermann Maier - Introduction

H.M. Lund was a concert pianist, teacher, music critic and sometime conductor. He was born in Ulm, Germany and, at the age of 29 and a half, immigrated to New Zealand. Facts about Hermann’s early life and career have not been corroborated but many wonderful names were cited during his lifetime: Schmann; Tausig; Wagner; von Bülow. At the very least, his early life would have given him opportunity to see, hear and admire the great composers of the time. In 1877 he arrived to a country with a lively, if rather amateur, music scene and a city full of “weather-worn shanties”. Fifty years later he remembers his first day walking up town “desolately” and a chance meeting with Sir Julius von Haast that convinced him to stay.(1) Hermann’s life was dedicated to music. He believed the “value and utility of the piano transcend by far its subordinate functions”, that its “existence is vital”.(2) Throughout his career he does not appear to have composed a single work but instead used his gifts to get “nearer and nearer to understanding and feeling great music”. On his eightieth birthday, the city of Christchurch honoured the fifty year contribution he had made to the city. At the time, many accorded him significant credit “for the high plane on which Christchurch music [stood]”(3) If you have any information about the life and times of Hermann Maier / Hermann Maier gennant Lund / HM Lund / or under his pen-name “Strad” please leave a comment.

Refs: The Press , 1927 (1) 50 Years of Music: 15 August; (2) What of the Piano: 7 December; (3) Music Community to Honour HM Lund: 25 June

About Me

Researching the family history of Hermann Maier b. 1847 Ulm