Background
Zimmermann was born in Paris, the son of a piano maker.
composer music educator pianist
Zimmermann was born in Paris, the son of a piano maker.
Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse.
He would later study under Luigi Cherubini. Zimmermann became a piano assistant at the Conservatory in 1811 and a full professor there in 1816, serving until 1848. He refused a position as a professor of counterpoint and fugue in 1821.
In 1842 he denied Conservatory admission to 13-year old Louis Moreau Gottschalk without an audition on account of Gottschalk"s American nationality, commenting that "America is a country of steam engines".
Zimmermann was often assisted in his teaching by Gounod. Zimmermann wrote two operas, L"enlèvement (Opéra-Comique, 1830) and Nausicaa (never staged).
He also composed two piano concertos, one piano sonata, and numerous other works for piano. His most important legacy is considered his Encyclopédie du pianiste, a complete method of piano playing, including a treatise on harmony and counterpoint.
He died in Paris and is buried in the Auteuil Cemetery in the 16th arrondissement.