Potter (Philip) Cipriani (Hambley) (1792-1871)

English pianist and composer. He had a reputation as a fine pianist. His compositions were largely instrumental.

He studied under Thomas Attwood, John Callcott, and William Crotch, and had finishing piano lessons from Joseph Woelfl 1805-10. He became an associate of the Philharmonic Society on its foundation in 1813 and a member when he reached majority. In 1816 he wrote an overture for it, also playing the piano there that year in a sextet of his own. In 1817 he went to Vienna, where he studied with Aloys Förster and met Beethoven. After visiting Germany and Italy he returned to London in 1821, became professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music the next year, and became principal in succession to Crotch in 1832, but resigned in 1859. In 1855, Wagner conducted one of his symphonies with the Philharmonic Society.

Works Orchestral nine symphonies (1819-34), four overtures for orchestra; three piano concertos (1832-35), Concertante for cello and orchestra; three piano trios, sextet for piano and strings.

Choral with orchestra cantata Medora e Corrado, Ode to Harmony.

Chamber horn and piano sonata, duo for violin and piano, two sonatas, The Enigma (‘Variations in the style of five eminent artists’, 1825), and other music for piano, songs.