Ignaz Josef Pleyel (1757-1831) was born in a village near Vienna. He was given a profound musical education with Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739-1813) and Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), becoming Haydns favourite pupil. In 1788 he married; of his four children his son Camille became known as a piano virtuoso. In Paris in 1797 he founded a music publishing firm and kept a music shop. In 1807 he started a piano factory together with his son Camille. In its 39 years his music publishing firm published ...