Cipriani Potter

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Philip Cipriani Hambly Potter (October 3, 1792 - September 26, 1871) was a British composer, pianist and educator.

Born in London, the son of Richard Huddleston Potter, Cipriani was named after his godmother (a relative of Giovanni Battista Cipriani). His father begun his musical instruction, which was continued by Thomas Attwood, William Crotch and Joseph Wölfl. Frustrated by a lack of opportunities in England, Potter went to Vienna in 1817, where he met Beethoven who advised him to study with Aloys Förster. Returning to England in 1819, Potter became a central figure in London concert life as both a pianist and conductor, playing piano in the British premiere of several Mozart piano concerti and Beethoven's 1st, 3rd and 4th piano concerti, as well as conducting the British premiere of Mendelsshon's G minor piano concerto with the composer at the piano. In 1822, Potter began teaching at the Royal Academy of Music, first piano and later conducting the orchestra. His students there included William Sterndale Bennett and Joseph Barnby. As Potter focused more on his educational work and preparing editions of Mozart and Beethoven keyboard music, he composed less and less often. There are few works written after 1837. He did, however, maintain a keen interest in new music from the continent, giving the first British rendition of Brahms' 'Ein Deutsches Requiem as a piano duet.

There are nine extant symphonies, although the composer's numbering tells us he wrote ten. The tenth symphony in G minor was praised by Richard Wagner during his time as conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Society. He also wrote four piano concerti, some chamber music and several piano solo pieces. His instrumental music displays the continental inheritance of his teachers in its use of instrumental forms such as sonata form. Aside from a cantata and a handful of songs, Potter composed no vocal music. Potter also wrote a couple of articles for periodicals about music, one of them about his visit with Beethoven.

Potter owned a 1683 Stradivarius violin.