Eric Mundinger

Eric Mundinger

Eric Mundinger. Accordionist, teacher, music engraver, b Offenburg, Germany, 25 Jun 1910, naturalized Canadian 1935, d Goodwood, Ont 12 Nov 1999. After studies in Germany with Karl Fink and tours in Europe as an accordionist concert soloist, Mundinger settled in Toronto in 1929. He continued his studies in the USA with Pietro Deiro and until 1939 performed as a soloist in concert and on radio. He also recorded for RCA and Deutsche Grammophon. Mundinger opened The Royal Accordion Academy in Toronto. He also operated the Mundinger School of Music 1935-71 in Toronto; the school offered only accordion lessons at first but added instruction in other instruments after 1952. Mundinger published The Mundinger Piano Accordion Method, vol 1 in 1955 and vol 2 in 1959. The 125-member Mundinger Accordion Orchestra, made up of his pupils, performed 1951-6 under his direction in southern Ontario centres including Toronto (Massey Hall). Its repertoire included many of his own transcriptions of symphonic works. Mundinger was founder and president ca 1952-71 of the Mundinger Music Co, which operated several music stores in the Toronto area. He began music engraving as a hobby in 1936 and established the firm Musictype Ltd in Goodwood, northeast of Toronto, in 1968. He did engravings for Berandol, Boosey & Hawkes, Chappell, Harris, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and Gordon V. Thompson Music, including sheet music, albums, instruction books, examination materials, choral works, and orchestral scores. He also engraved hymnals and altar books for churches in the USA, Hong Kong, and Canada.