Publish, sell, buy and download sheet music and performance licenses!
   
 
 
 
 

Carl Czerny

(Classical - Romantic)
   
 
Carl Czerny

Very few musicians are unaware of Carl Czerny, a composer, educator and pianist. He was born in 1791 in Vienna into a musical family and since his early childhood received education from his father. His talents were so obvious and striking that Beethoven, attending one of Carl’s recitals and impressed with his performance, suggested taking the young prodigy as his pupil to give him one class a week and later spoke highly of the boy’s skills and progress he made. Later on, Beethoven entrusted Carl with teaching his beloved nephew and premier performing of his Piano Concerto No. 5 the “Emperor”. In spite of his successful career as a performer Czerny disliked life as a touring virtuoso and chose to compose and teach becoming one of the most sought-after piano teachers in Vienna. Undoubtedly, his most famous pupil was Franz Liszt. Other notable students include Teodor Leschetizky, Theodor Döhler, Theodor Kullak, and Sigismund Thalberg.

Czerny’s unparalleled contribution to the techniques of piano playing was not only his teaching but also his great number of methodological treatises. The most prominent in this field is his “Vollstandige theoretisch-praktische Pianoforte- Schule von dem ersten Anfange bis zur hochsten Ausbildung fortschreitend”, where he classified achievements of various schools in a contemporary and progressive aspect and stated basic guidelines by which a musician following could reach the acme of piano playing skills. Research shows that it was Czerny who laid the foundation of contemporary pianism that was later taught by Liszt and Leschetizky.

The composer left a multifaceted musical legacy that includes requiems, symphonies, concertos, chamber pieces and romances. Czerny’s piano compositions remain the most popular throughout, especially his collections of studies are highly valued by pianists. Musicians are fond of performing these etudes due to obvious benefits they gain from playing such melodious pieces of high artistic merit. His collections based on the fundamental educational principle “from the simple to the complex” are in the repertoires of many contemporary musicians both mature and just beginning.

All Czerny’s life was devoted to music, his constant need to compose prevented him from marrying and even traveling abroad: he left Vienna only three times. He worked till his final days regardless of his failing health. The great composer died on July 15, 1857 at the age of 66.

Popular works
School of Velocity, Op.299. Complete set. For piano
Classical / Etude
Selected Etudes for Piano. Volume I
Classical / Etude
Practical Method for Beginners on the Pianoforte, Op.599. Complete set
Classical / Etude
Preparatory Studies, Op.636. For piano
Classical / Etude
The Little Pianist, Op.823. For piano
Classical / Etude
Etudes, Op.139. Complete set
Classical / Etude
Twenty-Four Exercises, Op.777. Complete set
Classical / Etude
School of Velocity, Op.299. Exercises No.1-10. For piano
Classical / Etude
Daily Exercises, Op.337
Classical / Etude
 
   
 
0:00
00:00