Czerny, Carl (1791-1857)

Austrian pianist Carl Czerny (1791-1857) was a pupil of the German composer Beethoven, and later became piano tutor to Beethoven's nephew. A composer of many works for the piano, he is remembered for his graded piano lessons. He published several other works for the teaching of the piano, which include a School of the Left Hand, and a School of Virtuosity.

Austrian pianist, teacher, and composer. He was first taught the piano by his father, played brilliantly at the age of ten, and became a pupil of Beethoven about that time; he also took advice from Johann Hummel and Muzio Clementi. Not liking to appear in public, he took to teaching and soon had an enormous following of pupils, among which he chose only the most gifted. This left him enough leisure for composition, which he cultivated so assiduously as to produce almost 1,000 works. He is chiefly remembered for his books of graded studies and technical exercises used in piano teaching, including the Complete Theoretical and Practical Pianoforte School (1839) which is still in widespread use.

Works 24 Masses, 4 Requiems, 300 graduals and offertories; many symphonies, overtures; concertos; string quartets and trios; choruses; songs and much piano music, including studies, exercises, preludes, and fugues in all the keys and endless arrangements of other composers' works.