Antoine Meyer, also known as Antun or Tun Meyer (1801–1857) was a Luxembourg-born mathematician and poet who later adopted Belgian nationality. Sometimes referred to as the father of Luxembourgish literature, he is remembered for publishing the very first book in Luxembourgish, a collection of six poems entitled "E' Schrek ob de' lezeburger Parnassus" (A Step up the Luxembourg Parnassus).[1]
Luxembourg-City, 3, rue Chimay, where Antoine Meyer (1801–1857) was born
Born on 31 May 1801 in Luxembourg City, Meyer was the son of Hubert Meyer, a shoemaker, and his wife Elisabeth Kirschenbilder who lived in the centre of the old town close to the Place d'Armes. After completing his secondary school education with flying colours at the local Athénée, he studied mathematics at Liège (1817–1823) where he was forced to give private lessons to his fellow students and help out in the library in order to pay for his studies. After receiving his doctorate, he spent an additional year in Paris studying at the Collège de France and at the Sorbonne where he came into contact with Europe's leading mathematicians.[2]
Careeredit
Professionally, Meyer was a brilliant mathematics teacher. In 1826, he taught at the Collège royal at Echternach in Luxembourg before moving to Breda in the Netherlands in 1828 where he worked at the newly opened Royal Military Academy. However, when two years later the Belgians rose up against the Dutch, he had to leave the country. After enormous difficulties, he finally succeeded in finding a job in Belgium at a school in Louvain. He spent a short period at the Institut Gaggia (1834) in Brussels but was then offered a post at the military school before going on to the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 1838. In 1849, he became a professor of higher mathematics at the Université de Liège until his death in 1857. For historical reasons, after the separation of Belgian Luxembourg, Meyer acquired Belgian nationality in 1842. The strong recognition he received for his mathematical publications and achievements testify to his full adoption by the Belgians. However, his poems show his lifelong attachment to Luxembourg.[2]
Poetryedit
Antoine Meyer's publication of "E' Schrek ob de' Lezeburger Parnassus" in 1829 was not received with very much enthusiasm. There were however one or two strong supporters. Félix Thyes, who coincidentally was the first Luxembourger to publish a book in French, commented: "It is Monsieur Antoine Meyer, a mathematics professor at the University of Liège, who has the honour of being the first to rescue this tongue from the indifference and scorn in which it is immersed, creating, as it were, a new literature. The good Luxembourgers were amazed, one morning, when they heard that the learned mathematician had just published a small volume of poems in their own language." The book contains six poems, a love poem: "Uen d'Christine" (To Christine), a meditation on the romantic subject of night: "D'Nuecht" (The Night), a kind of real life painting: "Een Abléck an engem Wiertshaus zu Lëtzebuerg" (A Moment in a Luxembourg Inn), and three fables: "D'porzelains an d'ierde Schierbel" (The Shard of Porcelain and the Earthen Pot), "D'Spéngel an d'Nol" (The Pin and the Needle) and "D'Flou an de Pierdskrécher" (The Fly and the Horse Trough). In regard to the fables, while Aesop and La Fontaine built their stories around animals, Meyer personified inanimate objects. For example, in "D'Spéngel an d'Nol", the well-to-do Miss Needle tries but fails to override the Pin, reflecting the failure of the French aristocracy to prevent the French Revolution.[2]
The mathematician went on to write three more poetic works as well as a booklet on spelling rules for Luxembourgish. A number of other poems by Antoine Meyer were published in the press. In his own words, Meyer's objective was to show that "the Luxembourg dialect is not as rough, poor, unregulated, stiff and barbarous as many born Luxembourgers would like to maintain". Félix Thyes commented: "We see in Mr Meyer, that noble pride of the plebeian, that instinct for liberty and often that burning concern for the poorer classes which can be found among all true poets of our times." It is now recognized that he succeeded in initiating the transformation of Luxembourgish into an acceptable literary language.[2][3]
Antoine Meyer died in Liège on 29 April 1857.
Worksedit
1829: "E' Schrek ob de' lezeburger Parnassus". Collection of poems published in Luxembourg (Lezeburg)
1832: "Jong vum Schrek op de Lezeburger Parnassus". Collection of poems published in Louvain
1845: "Luxemburgische Gedichte und Fabeln". Together with works by Heinrich Gloden. Published in Brussels
1853: "Oilzegt-Kläng". Collection of poems published in Liège (Lüttich)
1854: "Règelbüchelchen vum lezeburger Orthoegraf". Rules of Luxembourg Spelling. Published in Liège
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antoine Meyer.
Referencesedit
^"Meyer, Antoine (Antun)", Luxemburger Luxikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Luxembourg, 2006. (in German)
^ abcd, Projet 'Formatioun Lëtzebuergesch', ULG – Campus d'Arlon, 17 February 2007. (in French) Retrieved 3 February 2011.
^Pierre Marson, "Literatur auf Luxemburgisch: Einige Schwerpunkte von den Anfängen bis heute" (Vortrag, 18.11.2008) (PDF) 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. (in German) Retrieved 3 February 2011.
January 01, 1970
antoine, meyer, also, known, antun, meyer, 1801, 1857, luxembourg, born, mathematician, poet, later, adopted, belgian, nationality, sometimes, referred, father, luxembourgish, literature, remembered, publishing, very, first, book, luxembourgish, collection, po. Antoine Meyer also known as Antun or Tun Meyer 1801 1857 was a Luxembourg born mathematician and poet who later adopted Belgian nationality Sometimes referred to as the father of Luxembourgish literature he is remembered for publishing the very first book in Luxembourgish a collection of six poems entitled E Schrek ob de lezeburger Parnassus A Step up the Luxembourg Parnassus 1 Luxembourg City 3 rue Chimay where Antoine Meyer 1801 1857 was born Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Poetry 4 Works 5 ReferencesEarly life editBorn on 31 May 1801 in Luxembourg City Meyer was the son of Hubert Meyer a shoemaker and his wife Elisabeth Kirschenbilder who lived in the centre of the old town close to the Place d Armes After completing his secondary school education with flying colours at the local Athenee he studied mathematics at Liege 1817 1823 where he was forced to give private lessons to his fellow students and help out in the library in order to pay for his studies After receiving his doctorate he spent an additional year in Paris studying at the College de France and at the Sorbonne where he came into contact with Europe s leading mathematicians 2 Career editProfessionally Meyer was a brilliant mathematics teacher In 1826 he taught at the College royal at Echternach in Luxembourg before moving to Breda in the Netherlands in 1828 where he worked at the newly opened Royal Military Academy However when two years later the Belgians rose up against the Dutch he had to leave the country After enormous difficulties he finally succeeded in finding a job in Belgium at a school in Louvain He spent a short period at the Institut Gaggia 1834 in Brussels but was then offered a post at the military school before going on to the Universite Libre de Bruxelles in 1838 In 1849 he became a professor of higher mathematics at the Universite de Liege until his death in 1857 For historical reasons after the separation of Belgian Luxembourg Meyer acquired Belgian nationality in 1842 The strong recognition he received for his mathematical publications and achievements testify to his full adoption by the Belgians However his poems show his lifelong attachment to Luxembourg 2 Poetry editAntoine Meyer s publication of E Schrek ob de Lezeburger Parnassus in 1829 was not received with very much enthusiasm There were however one or two strong supporters Felix Thyes who coincidentally was the first Luxembourger to publish a book in French commented It is Monsieur Antoine Meyer a mathematics professor at the University of Liege who has the honour of being the first to rescue this tongue from the indifference and scorn in which it is immersed creating as it were a new literature The good Luxembourgers were amazed one morning when they heard that the learned mathematician had just published a small volume of poems in their own language The book contains six poems a love poem Uen d Christine To Christine a meditation on the romantic subject of night D Nuecht The Night a kind of real life painting Een Ableck an engem Wiertshaus zu Letzebuerg A Moment in a Luxembourg Inn and three fables D porzelains an d ierde Schierbel The Shard of Porcelain and the Earthen Pot D Spengel an d Nol The Pin and the Needle and D Flou an de Pierdskrecher The Fly and the Horse Trough In regard to the fables while Aesop and La Fontaine built their stories around animals Meyer personified inanimate objects For example in D Spengel an d Nol the well to do Miss Needle tries but fails to override the Pin reflecting the failure of the French aristocracy to prevent the French Revolution 2 The mathematician went on to write three more poetic works as well as a booklet on spelling rules for Luxembourgish A number of other poems by Antoine Meyer were published in the press In his own words Meyer s objective was to show that the Luxembourg dialect is not as rough poor unregulated stiff and barbarous as many born Luxembourgers would like to maintain Felix Thyes commented We see in Mr Meyer that noble pride of the plebeian that instinct for liberty and often that burning concern for the poorer classes which can be found among all true poets of our times It is now recognized that he succeeded in initiating the transformation of Luxembourgish into an acceptable literary language 2 3 Antoine Meyer died in Liege on 29 April 1857 Works edit1829 E Schrek ob de lezeburger Parnassus Collection of poems published in Luxembourg Lezeburg 1832 Jong vum Schrek op de Lezeburger Parnassus Collection of poems published in Louvain 1845 Luxemburgische Gedichte und Fabeln Together with works by Heinrich Gloden Published in Brussels 1853 Oilzegt Klang Collection of poems published in Liege Luttich 1854 Regelbuchelchen vum lezeburger Orthoegraf Rules of Luxembourg Spelling Published in Liege nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antoine Meyer References edit Meyer Antoine Antun Luxemburger Luxikon Editions Guy Binsfeld Luxembourg 2006 in German a b c d R Muller Les debuts de la litterature luxembourgophone Projet Formatioun Letzebuergesch ULG Campus d Arlon 17 February 2007 in French Retrieved 3 February 2011 Pierre Marson Literatur auf Luxemburgisch Einige Schwerpunkte von den Anfangen bis heute Vortrag 18 11 2008 PDF Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine in German Retrieved 3 February 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antoine Meyer amp oldid 1184227053, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
