Moller, John Christopher (real name, Johann Christoph Möller)

Moller, John Christopher (real name, Johann Christoph Möller), German-American organist, music publisher, concert manager, and composer; b. in Germany, 1755; d. N.Y., Sept. 21, 1803. He was active in London (c. 1775–85), then emigrated to the U.S. In 1790 he appeared in N.Y. as a harpsichordist, but left immediately after his concerts for Philadelphia, where he became organist and composer for the Zion German Lutheran Church. From 1790 to 1793 he took part in the City Concerts (with Reinagle, and later Henri Capron) as both manager and performer. Apparently he was also proficient as a pianist, violinist, and performer on the glass harmonica. In 1793 he was joint proprietor, with Capron, of a music store, which he also used as a music school. Because of the destruction of the Zion Church by fire on Dec. 26, 1794, Moller’s income was severely reduced, and in 1795 he returned to N.Y. He was organist of the Trinity Episcopal Church, and also active as a concert manager. In 1796 he succeeded Hewitt in the management of the N.YC. Concerts with the Van Hagens. His attempt to continue this subscription series by himself, when Van Hagen later left for Boston, was unsuccessful.

Works

6 quartettes for Strings (London, c. 1775); 6 sonatas for Fortepiano or Harpsichord, Violin, and Cello (London, c. 1775); 6 sonatas for Harpsichord or Pianoforte, Violin, and Cello ad libitum (London, c. 1782); 2 keyboard concertos; Dank und Gebet, cantata (1794); various didactic works; etc.

Bibliography

E. Wolf, Lutheran Church Music in America during the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries (diss., Univ. of III., 1960; includes text and music of Dank und Gebet); R. Stetzel, J.C. M. (1755–1803) and His Role in Early American Music (diss., Univ. of Iowa, 1965; includes complete list of works).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire