Zimmerman, Pierre Joseph Guillaume

1785-1853

Distinguished teacher of piano, and a composer of ability. Born in Paris, the son of a piano manufacturer. He entered the Paris Conservatory when thirteen, the next year won a prize for his piano-playing, and two years later, having studied harmony under Catel, won that prize also. Others of his instructors were Boieldieu, Rey and Cherubini. For thirty-two years he was a professor of piano-playing at the Conservatory. Among his pupils were Alkan, Dejazet, Lacombe, A. Thomas and others equally well known. He was offered another professorship, that of counterpoint and fugue but declined it. In 1848 he retired with the honorary office of inspector of piano classes. He was also made Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Zimmerman died in Paris, five years after his retirement from active life. His compositions consist of piano-music, a variety of romances, and a comic opera which met with some success. He also published a Piano Encyclopedia which is by far his most important work. It is a complete method of piano instruction with a treatise on harmony and counterpoint.