Dates

• Existence: February 24, 1771 - April 16, 1858

Biography

Cramer was born in Mannheim Germany where he established himself first as a pianist known for his technical perfection. In 1800, following the example of his teacher Clementi, he formed the publishing house Cramer and Company who were responsible for assigning Beethoven’s fifth piano concerto the name “Emperor” when they published the English edition. As a composer he had been prolific composing over 200 piano sonatas, nine piano concertos, 50 instrumental sonatas, as well as chamber works, and works for orchestra. Of all Cramer’s works, the one that has had the greatest enduring value is his celebrated set of 84 studies for the piano, published in two sets of 42 each in 1804 and 1810 as Studio per il pianoforte.