John Field (Composer)
John Field (26 July 1782 – 23 January 1837) was
an Irish pianist, composer, and teacher. He was born in
Dublin into a musical family, and received his early education there. The Fields
soon moved to London, where Field studied under Muzio Clementi. Under his tutelage,
Field quickly became a famous and sought-after concert pianist; together, master
and pupil visited Paris, Vienna, and St. Petersburg. The Russian capital
impressed Field so much that he eventually decided to stay behind when Clementi
left, and from about 1804 was particularly active in Russia.
Field was very highly
regarded by his contemporaries and his playing and compositions influenced many
major composers, including Chopin, Brahms, Schumann, and Liszt. He is best known today for
originating the piano nocturne, a
form later made famous by Chopin, as well as for his substantial contribution,
through concerts and teaching, to the development of the Russian piano
school.
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