Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller

Friedrich Burgmüller was born in Ratisbon, Germany in 1806. He was a pianist and composer and the son of the composer, pianist, and music teacher Johann August Franz Burgmüller.

Did you know that Burgmüller had a younger brother, Norbert, who was called a "genius composer"? Norbert Burgmüller composed nearly fifty works between 1825 and 1836.

In 1831, Friedrich Burgmüller moved to Düsseldorf, hoping to obtain a permanent appointment in the flourishing musical atmosphere of that city, but the project came to nothing. He was suffering very frequent epileptic fits at this time. In 1832, Friedrich settled in Paris, where he became internationally admired for his salon pieces and studies. At a time when demand for new teaching material had reached unprecedented heights, he supplied a sequence of works that appealed to the amateur market by virtue of their musical interest and appropriate technical demands. The set of 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100, was soon followed by the 18 Characteristic Studies, Op. 109, a continuation of the earlier set, each piece bearing a charming title. I remember playing "L'Arabesque " and "La Candeur" from 25 Etudes Op. 100. Each Etude is so melodious and charming. Thank you, Burgmüller,  for contributing to the education of generations of pianists!