Lewis F. Muir, born Louis Meuer (May 30, 1883 – December 3, 1915) was an American composer and ragtime pianist.
Lewis F. Muir
Born
Louis Meuer
May 30, 1883
Died
December 3, 1915 (aged 32)
Occupation(s)
Composer, pianist
Years active
1904-1915
Biography
Originally a millinery peddler, Muir started as a pianist in St. Louis[1] cafes and played in the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.[2] He moved to New York in 1910. His first published composition was "Play That Barber-Shop Chord" from 1910. Vaudeville entertainer Bert Williams used the song in his shows. Other compositions published by Muir in 1910–1911 include "Oh, You Bear Cat Rag", "The Matrimony Rag" and "When Ragtime Rosie Ragged the Rosary".[2] In 1912, he collaborated with Maurice Abrahams in composing music for the song Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
Journalist L. Wolfe Gilbert criticized Muir's use of the Catholic rosary in the name of a ragtime piece, which he considered sacrilegious. Muir confronted Gilbert in person and, after a heated argument, challenged Gilbert to write a song with him. The result was a romantic song called "Do You Feel It in the Air?" and "Waiting For The Robert E. Lee", the latter becoming the best-known title written by either man.[2] This version of events is somewhat contradicted by Gilbert himself, who said in an interview: " One day I was given a chance to write some stuff for the Clipper, which assured me of my room rent. About this time I met Lew Muir, and he asked me why his songs did not "get over." I told him I thought they were too clever for the average theatre audience. He asked me if I would write some songs with him, but I couldn't see any money in them and refused. Later he brought me a melody that I liked and I took a chance on it and made a few dollars, and shortly after we turned out the ' Robert E. Lee. ' After that everything was plain sailing."[3]
Muir composed productively in 1912–1913 and travelled to London with pianist Pete Wendling to play ragtime in the Oxford Theatre. He also collaborated with Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo. In 1914 published "Camp Meeting Band," "Buy a Bale of Cotton for Me," "I Had a Gal, I Had a Pal" and "Mooching Along". Lewis F. Muir died of tuberculosis on December 3, 1915, at the age of 32.[2]
^. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
^ abcdarwulf, arwulf. "Lewis F. Muir". Allmusic. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
^Writer's Monthly, Jan 1916 (January 1916). "Lewis F. Muir". Writer's Monthly. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
January 07, 2023
lewis, muir, born, louis, meuer, 1883, december, 1915, american, composer, ragtime, pianist, bornlouis, meuermay, 1883dieddecember, 1915, aged, occupation, composer, pianistyears, active1904, 1915biography, editoriginally, millinery, peddler, muir, started, pi. Lewis F Muir born Louis Meuer May 30 1883 December 3 1915 was an American composer and ragtime pianist Lewis F MuirBornLouis MeuerMay 30 1883DiedDecember 3 1915 aged 32 Occupation s Composer pianistYears active1904 1915Biography EditOriginally a millinery peddler Muir started as a pianist in St Louis 1 cafes and played in the St Louis World s Fair in 1904 2 He moved to New York in 1910 His first published composition was Play That Barber Shop Chord from 1910 Vaudeville entertainer Bert Williams used the song in his shows Other compositions published by Muir in 1910 1911 include Oh You Bear Cat Rag The Matrimony Rag and When Ragtime Rosie Ragged the Rosary 2 In 1912 he collaborated with Maurice Abrahams in composing music for the song Ragtime Cowboy Joe Journalist L Wolfe Gilbert criticized Muir s use of the Catholic rosary in the name of a ragtime piece which he considered sacrilegious Muir confronted Gilbert in person and after a heated argument challenged Gilbert to write a song with him The result was a romantic song called Do You Feel It in the Air and Waiting For The Robert E Lee the latter becoming the best known title written by either man 2 This version of events is somewhat contradicted by Gilbert himself who said in an interview One day I was given a chance to write some stuff for the Clipper which assured me of my room rent About this time I met Lew Muir and he asked me why his songs did not get over I told him I thought they were too clever for the average theatre audience He asked me if I would write some songs with him but I couldn t see any money in them and refused Later he brought me a melody that I liked and I took a chance on it and made a few dollars and shortly after we turned out the Robert E Lee After that everything was plain sailing 3 Muir composed productively in 1912 1913 and travelled to London with pianist Pete Wendling to play ragtime in the Oxford Theatre He also collaborated with Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo In 1914 published Camp Meeting Band Buy a Bale of Cotton for Me I Had a Gal I Had a Pal and Mooching Along Lewis F Muir died of tuberculosis on December 3 1915 at the age of 32 2 External links EditFree scores by Lewis F Muir at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP References Edit Lewis F Muir Songwriters Hall of Fame Archived from the original on April 2 2012 Retrieved October 7 2011 a b c d arwulf arwulf Lewis F Muir Allmusic Retrieved October 7 2011 Writer s Monthly Jan 1916 January 1916 Lewis F Muir Writer s Monthly Retrieved July 2 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lewis F Muir amp oldid 1124719927, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
