Hummel composed about twenty-five sonatas in total, including four duets, twelve with other instruments, and nine for solo piano, five of which are considered mature works.
Composer Biography
Johann Nepomuk Hummel, born in 1778, was a child prodigy who lived and studied with Mozart in Vienna for two years at the age of eight.
Performer Biography
Stephen Hough's recordings have won numerous international prizes, including the Diapason d'Or, Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, Classic CD, and Gramophone Awards, with two of his concerto recordings receiving Gramophone's 'Record of the Year' award.
Composer Biography
Hummel received lessons in counterpoint and composition from Salieri and Clementi, and studied organ with Haydn.
Performer Biography
Stephen Hough, the pianist on this recording, was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2001 for his commitment to discovering and advancing knowledge and improving society.
Cultural Impact
Hummel's 'A Complete Theoretical and Practical Course of Instruction on the Art of Playing the Piano Forte', published in 1828, was regarded as the definitive guide on piano technique for the remainder of the nineteenth century.
Critical Reception
Despite being considered Beethoven's equal as a pianist and composer by many contemporaries, Hummel's standing declined significantly after his death, with critics calling his music 'respectable mediocrity'.
You might also enjoy...
Mozart: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2
Piano Lessons - Piano Sonatas by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
