(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.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.