Cramer, Johann Baptist (1771-1858)

German-born composer, pianist, and teacher. He is most famous for his 84 studies for piano (1804, 1810), which are still used today. He composed in a conservative style for his day, trying to emulate the music of Mozart. As a pianist he was admired for his technical command and legato touch. He was one of a group of composers known as the London Pianoforte School.

He was taken to London as a young child, and was taught by his father, Wilhelm Cramer (1746-1799), a violinist. He later went to Muzio Clementi for piano study, and first appeared in public in 1781. In 1824 he established a music publishing business. He lived abroad from 1835 to 1845.

Works 9 piano concertos; 2 piano quartets and quintets; 124 piano sonatas, 2 volumes of 42 studies each, 16 later studies, 100 daily exercises, and other pieces.