Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller from a lithograph, c.1840
Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller, generally known as Friedrich Burgmuller (4 December 1806 – 13 February 1874) was a German pianist and composer[1] during the Romantic period. He is perhaps best known for his three collections of children's etudes (or "teaching pieces") for the piano, particularly his Op. 100 "25 Études faciles et progressives" (25 Easy and Progressive Studies) for early intermediate students. The other two collections, for more advanced students, were Op. 105 and 109.
He moved to Kassel in 1829 to study with Ludwig Spohr and Moritz Hauptmann.[1] There he appeared as a pianist for his first concert, January 14, 1830.[1]
Burgmüller moved to Paris in 1832 (at age 26
),[1] where he stayed until his death. Norbert Burgmüller, his brother, made plans to join him in Paris, in 1835. However, he drowned in a spa in Aachen during an epileptic seizure a year later. In Paris, Burgmüller adopted Parisian music and developed his trademark (light) style of playing. He wrote many pieces of salon music for the piano and published several albums. Burgmüller also went on to compose piano études intended for children. He died in Paris on February 13, 1874.
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Works
Burgmüller composed piano pieces, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises and two ballets. His Peasant Pas de Deux was added to Adolphe Adam's ballet Giselle for its 1841 premiere. This music was originally titled Souvenirs de Ratisbonne.
^ a b c d ePhilip J. BoneThe Guitar and Mandolin. Biographies of celebrated players and composers for these instruments (London: Schott and Co., 1914).
Link to Recording of the Opus 100 Etudes at the Piano Society Website Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
Description of the Opus 100 Etudes by Noriaki Nomoto Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
"Etudes op. 100 von Friedrich Burgmüller, pianoforte Pleyel". YouTube. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Etude op. 100 No 24 (l´hirondelle/ die Schwalbe/ the swallow) of Friedrich Burgmüller". YouTube. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 30 March 2021.