Joseph Woelfl was considered a worthy rival to Beethoven, with their piano 'duels' in Vienna being a topic of general conversation in musical circles.
Historical Context
Woelfl played an important role in the history of British music as one of the founders of the English piano school, alongside figures like Clementi and Cramer.
Composer Biography
Joseph Woelfl was known for his rich vein of humor and could imitate a variety of sounds and noises, such as storms, thunder, and animal sounds, often deceiving those in an adjoining room.
Composer Biography
Woelfl possessed a 'gigantic hand' that allowed him to span a tenth on the piano as easily as others span an octave, enabling him to play rapid double-note passages.
Composer Biography
Joseph Woelfl, the composer, received piano and violin lessons from Leopold Mozart and was even taken into the Mozart household as a child.
Composition History
Woelfl's Trois Sonates, Op. 6, were dedicated to Beethoven, possibly as a result of their celebrated piano competition in 1798.
Critical Reception
Contemporaries noted that while Beethoven's playing was brilliant and extraordinary in improvisation, Woelfl's playing was praised for its ease, precision, clearness, and pleasing interpretation, especially in Adagios.
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