Musical Lineage

In piano studies here's my lineage: I, (born 1956) studied with John Suter, (born 1910). John Suter studied with Carl Hakes. Carl Hakes studied with Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler(born 1863). Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler studied with Theodor Leschetizky(born 1830). Teodor Leszetycki, (his true Polish name), studied with Carl Czerny, (born1791).

Czerny was born in Vienna to a family of Bohemian origins. He was taught piano by his father before taking lessons from Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Antonio Salieri, and Ludwig van Beethoven. He was a child prodigy, making his first appearance in public in 1800 playing a Mozart piano concerto. Later, he gave the Vienna premiere of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" in 1812.

Hummel, born 1778, was taught and housed by Mozart, (born 1756) for two years free of charge and made his first concert appearance at the age of nine, at one of Mozart's concerts. Hummel's father then led him on a European tour, arriving in London, where he received instruction from Muzio Clementi and stayed for four years before returning to Vienna. In 1791, Joseph Haydn, who was in London at the same time as young Hummel, composed a sonata in A flat for Hummel, who played its premiere in the Hanover Square Rooms in Haydn's presence. When Hummel finished, Haydn reportedly thanked the young man and gave him a guinea.

Salieri was born the year Johann Sebastian Bach died, 1750. He was a teacher to many famous composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Carl Czerny, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Franz Liszt, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Ignaz Moscheles, Franz Schubert, and Franz Xaver Süssmayr. He also taught Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's younger son, Franz Xaver, some years after the death of Franz's illustrious father.

Beethoven was born in 1770. It is unclear as to when his birthdate was, but the family celebrated it on the 16th of December. In 1792, Beethoven moved to Vienna, where he studied for a time with Joseph Haydn: his hopes of studying with Mozart had been shattered by Mozart's death the previous year. Beethoven received additional instruction from Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (Vienna's pre-eminent counterpoint instructor) and Antonio Salieri. By 1793, Beethoven established a reputation in Vienna as a piano virtuoso.

So six "generations" from Beethoven seven from Mozart!!! A heritage that spans two hundred years from 1756 to 1956, although built on the music and the musicians prior to the 18th century of course.