(b Mannheim, 24 Feb 1771; d London, 16 April 1858 ). English composer, pianist and publisher of German descent. He was the eldest son of Wilhelm Cramer (1746-99), one of the finest violinists of his day, who settled in London in 1772. About the age of three the young Cramer was taken to London, wher e he studied with Clementi (1783-4) and C.F. Abel, soon establishing himself as a concert pianist, making continental tours and meeting prominent musicians. His performances of Bach and Mozart created great excitement and he helped introduce Beethoven's sonatas to English audiences, his expressive legato touch and refined improvisation being especially admired. He taught privately for many years and was a music publisher from 1805, establishing in 1824 the firm that still bears his name.
Cramer wrote 124 sonatas (all before 1820), nine piano concertos, influential didactic works (of which the most important was his two-part Studio per il pianoforte, 1804, 1810) and many pieces for the di lettante; though the quality varies, his music generally combines a Mozartian grace and clarity with a skilful ingenuity in passage-work. His brother Franz [François] (1772-1848) was a prominent violinist in London.
Johann Baptist Cramer was one of the leading piano virtuosos of the first half of the nineteenth century, familiar and fashionable enough on the London scene to be mentioned in Jane Austen's book Emma. Reassessment of his rarely played compositions has led many commentators to conclude that this neglect is unjustified, that many of them are original works which take advantage of the piano's sonorities.
Mannheim was one of the leading musical centers in Germany when Cramer was born there to Wilhelm Cramer, a violinist in its famous orchestra. Wilhelm moved the family to London and started teaching both Johann Baptist and his other son Franz violin. Johann showed a great affinity for the piano and was placed with a teacher, J.D. Benser, and then graduated, successively, to J.S. Schroeter and Muzio Clementi. Meanwhile, he had already made a successful debut in April 6, 1781, playing piano at one of his father's benefit concerts. In 1784 he appeared with Clementi in a duo-piano recital. In 1785 he had training in theory and composition with C.F. Abel.
He traveled to France and Germany in 1788, meeting with success and acclaim. While there, he wrote some of his earliest works, which were published in France. He returned to London in 1791, becoming the best young pianist on the scene. He met every prominent musician who appeared in London at that time, including Joseph Haydn. Cramer made a second tour of the Continent beginning in 1799.
He returned to England in 1800, and soon married. He began writing the first of his two series of piano etudes, which are his most well-known works, still assigned to piano students today. He remained in England for the most part, teaching at the top fee of the day, and introducing Beethoven's sonatas to English audiences. His Bach and Mozart concerts were especially well-regarded, and he came to be known as "Glorious John" to his audience.
In 1805 he started a publishing partnership, Cramer & Keyes, and another in 1810 with Samuel Chappell. Chappell eventually struck out on his own, founding Chappell & Co., Ltd, leaving Cramer to found J.B. Cramer & Co., Ltd. (Both firms remain in existence.) He was the English publisher of Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto and is credited with giving it its nickname, "The Emperor." Cramer was also a founder of the Philharmonic Society.
He married again in 1829 and in 1835, at the age of 64, he retired from the stage officially at a grand farewell concert. After his retirement he established a permanent residence in Paris, but traveled also to Germany and Austria. He returned to London in 1745 and remained there until his death.
He had observed the great change of musical taste from the Classical era and played in concert with both Joseph Haydn and Franz Liszt. He summed up the change by saying that in the old days pianists played fort bien (very well), and now they played bien forte (awfully loud).
Johann Cramer's lengthy list of compositions is dominated by piano sonatas and other piano works. Their adherence to a Classical ideal did not prevent them from showing the new ideas in music that were developed during Cramer's time, and the later works are especially influenced by Beethoven. It is, however, Cramer's keyboard performance style that had the most influence on later musicians. His legato, refined improvisation, and clear dexterity were highly regarded. ~ Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide
Johann Baptist Cramer (24 February 1771 – 16 April 1858) was an English musician of German origin. He was the son of Wilhelm Cramer (1746-1799), a famous London violinist and musical conductor of German origin, one of a numerous family who were identified with the progress of music during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Johann Baptist Cramer was born in Mannheim and was brought to London as a child, and it was in London that the greater part of his musical efforts was exercised.
From 1782 to 1784 he studied the piano under Muzio Clementi, and soon became known as a professional pianist both in London and on the continent; he enjoyed a world-wide reputation, and was particularly appreciated by Beethoven. He was the English publisher of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 and is credited with giving it its nickname, "The Emperor".[1] He died in London.
Johann Baptist Cramer was one of the most renowned piano performers of his day. He met Beethoven in Vienna, initiating a mutually rewarding relationship, and he renewed his friendly association with Haydn.
After 1800 Cramer's public career was centred almost entirely on England: following the very successful example of Clementi, Cramer entered the music publishing business. The large volume of Cramer's composition is only part of his musical achievement: Beethoven considered him the finest pianist of the day.
Apart from his piano playing, Cramer is important as a composer. He established a musical instrument manufacturing and music-publishing outlet Cramer & Co. at 201 Regent Street[2]) in partnership with Thomas Frederick Beale and Robert Addison. Cramer ceased involvement with the business at the end of 1833 although it continued to carry his name[3]. He wrote a number of sonatas and other pieces for piano, and other compositions; but his studies are the works by which he lives on as a composer. These studies have appeared in numerous editions, and became the staple pieces in the training of pianists.
His music is generally less dramatic than Clementi's, less rich as Dussek's, less sentimental as Field's. The originality of his genius appears principally in his combination of a conservative bias with the most advanced, idiomatically pianistic passage-work. He wrote piano Sonatas (ca. 200), accompanied piano Sonatas (ca.50), 9 piano concertos and chamber music.
