Ferdinand Ries

Ferdinand Ries was a German composer. Ries was a friend, pupil and secretary of Ludwig van Beethoven. He composed eight symphonies, a violin concerto, nine piano concertos, three operas, and numerous other works, including 26 string quartets. In 1838 he published a collection of reminiscences of his teacher Beethoven, co-written with Beethoven’s friend, Franz Wegeler. Ries’ symphonies, some chamber works—most of them with piano—his violin concerto and his piano concertos have been recorded, exhibiting a style which, given his connection to Beethoven, lies between the Classical and early Romantic styles.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article on Ferdinand Ries.

From the period sources

Ferdinand Ries was a significant figure in the musical world, notably as a pupil of Beethoven, with whom he co-authored a biographical work, Biographische Notizen über L. van Beethoven (Wegeler und Ries, 1838). His influence extended to teaching, as seen in his instruction of Franz d’Alquen, a law student who, after taking piano lessons from Ries and traveling with him, became a professional pianist and teacher (A Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 1905). Ries also taught John Barnett, an English dramatic composer (Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, Vol. 1, 1888). As a composer himself, Ries wrote the opera La Fiancée du Brigand (Biographie universelle des musiciens, Vol. 4, 1883). However, his string quartets, alongside those of Romberg, Onslow, and Fesca, were considered by some as merely “the echo of Mozart’s,” making no particular advance in the treatment of the four instruments (Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 1922).