Ignaz Josef Pleyel (1757-1831) was born in Ruppersthal, near Vienna, the son of a schoolteacher. Very little is known about his early musical training, but he is believed to have studied with Vanhal at some point.



In 1772 he was accepted as a pupil by Joseph Haydn in Eisenstadt. Here he studied for some years and then became Kapellmeister for his patron, the Hungarian Count Erdödy. In the early eighties he travelled around Italy, and after some considerable succes there became assistant to Franz Xaver Richter, Kapellmeister of Strasburg Cathedral. In the 1791-2 season he conducted the London Professional Concerts, making quite a large sum of money.



Most of Pleyel's output dates from the period 1785-95. Around 1795, Pleyel moved to Paris, where he founded Maison Pleyel, a music publishing firm. From this point on his own compositional output decreased dramatically. In 1807, he extended his business to include piano manufacturing. His pianos became famous all over Europe, and 'Salle Pleyel' among the most important places for artists to perform.



His output comprises 41 Symphonies, a Requiem, 6 Symphonies Concertantes, 8 Concertos, and a large amount of chamber music including: 17 Quintets, 70 Quartets, 48 Trios, and 64 Duets; also songs, church music and a couple of operas.