Born in Ruppersthal, June 18, 1757
Died in Paris, Nov 14, 1831
[een-YAHS ZHO-zef PLAY-el | Pronunciation]
- A student of Johann Baptist Vanhal and Joseph Haydn, Ignace (or Ignaz) Joseph Pleyel became a highly successful composer, publisher, and piano builder.
- In 1784, Pleyel became assistant Kappelmeister at Strasbourg Cathedral and, in 1789, principal Kappelmeister. During this period, Pleyel became a French citizen. He also wrote most of his compositional output while in Strasbourg, and his music became well known throughout Europe and even in North America.
- As a composer, Pleyel wrote over 40 symphonies, dozens of string quartets, and several operas.
- Pleyel left Strasbourg for London in 1791 because of the French Revolution. He moved to Paris in 1795 (post-reign of terror). In Paris, Pleyel opened both a music shop and a publishing house.
- Pleyel’s publishing house issued works by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Clementi, and Boccherini, among others.
- Becoming much more occupied by his business pursuits than composing or performing, Pleyel opened a piano manufacturing workshop in 1807. Pleyel’s son, Camille, continued developing the piano manufacturing business, bringing its instruments to international renown.
Learn More
Biography via Artaria Editions
A short video on the history of Pleyel pianos
Sources
- Britannica Editors, “Ignace Joseph Pleyel,” Encyclopedia Britannica (2025), accessed December 22, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ignace-Joseph-Pleyel.