IGNAZ

JOSEPH

See also:

• IGNAZ JOSEPH PLEYEL (1757–1831)

PLEYEL (1757–1831)  , Austrian musician, was born at Ruppersthal, near Vienna, on the 1st of June 1757, the twenty-fourth son of a poor village schoolmaster . He studied the pianoforte under Van Hal (known in England as Vanhall), and in 1772 learned composition from Haydn, who became his dearest friend . He was appointed temporary maitre de chapelle at Strasburg in 1783, receiving a permanent appointment to the office in 1789 . In 1791 he paid a successful visit to London . He narrowly escaped the guillotine on returning to Strasburg, and was only saved by the existence of a cantata which he had written, and in which the inspiration could fairly be claimed to be on the side of liberty; so that he was permitted to remain until 1795, when he migrated to Paris . Here he opened a large music shop, published the first complete edition of Haydn's quartets, and founded, in s8o7, the pianoforte manufactory which still bears his name . The latter years of his life were spent in agricultural pursuits . The July revolution of 183o inflicted upon him a severe shock, and on the 14th of November 1831 he died in Paris .