Born in Dublin, c. July 26, 1782, baptized 5 Sept
Died in Moscow, Jan 23, 1837
- John Field was apprenticed to Muzio Clementi from a young age. Clementi taught Field piano and helped him set up a teaching and performing career, and in exchange Field demonstrated the prowess of the pianos Clementi built and sold by playing them for customers.
- Known in his lifetime as a virtuoso pianist throughout Europe (and particularly successful in Russia), Field invented the genre of nocturne, as well as the lyrical style of piano composition we tend to associate with Chopin (who learned it from Field!)1
Sources
- Robin Langley, “Field, John,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed October 1, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000009603.