Regarding piano-playing now begins the long list of methods and studies upon which modern technique rests. Back of those meant for the piano lay many devised for the clavichord or harpsichord, such as the famous example (1753-87) by K. P. E. Bach (d. 1788) and that by Georg Simon Löhlein (d. 1781) of Leipsic and Danzig (1765-81, with many later editions, as by J. G. Wetthauer, 1791, and A. E. Müller, 1804). All the great virtuosi of the period contributed, though usually coming to formal publication only after years of teaching. Examples are those by Clementi (d. 1832), whose best pedagogical work was his Gradus (1817); by Dussek (d. 1812); in 1798-1804 by Louis Adam (d. 1848) for the Paris Conservatoire; and about 1810 by J. B. Cramer (d. 1858), Wölfl (d. 1812) and Pollini (d. 1846).
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This period witnessed the advent of the genuine historical investigator, whose conclusions rest upon documents and personal research. The earliest was Martini (d. 1784), whose Storia has been mentioned above. Contemporaneous with him were two Englishmen who accomplished much more.
John Hawkins (d. 1789), born in 1719, was trained in mathematics and the law, continuing to practise the latter through his life. He was interested in literary studies and was a special friend of Samuel Johnson. Musical matters attracted him early, and, becoming wealthy through marriage, he retired to Twickenham, collected a superb library and devoted himself to preparing his great History (5 vols., 1776, republished 1853 and 1875). He also wrote an account of the Academy of Ancient Music (1770). His History came into immediate competition with the first volume of Burney, at first unsuccessfully, because not so brilliantly written, but later with increasing appreciation of its accuracy.
Charles Burney (d. 1814), born in 1726, was brought up as a musician, for a time being a pupil of Arne. He composed much dramatic music (1745-66), with several piano- or violin-sonatas and concertos, etc. From 1749 he was organist in London and from 1751 at Lynn Regis, where the project of his History was formed. Returning to London in 1760, while continuing musical production, he began collecting materials. In 1770 and 1772 he made extensive tours on the Continent, enjoying opportunities to visit libraries and consult with musicians. He published accounts of these tours (France and Italy, 1771, Germany, the Netherlands, etc., 1773). His History (4 vols., 1776-89) came out slowly, but secured quick popularity for its readableness and freshness. He also wrote accounts of the youthful prodigy Crotch (1770) and of the Handel Commemoration (1785), besides a life of the poet Metastasio (3 vols., 1796). He was an exceedingly affable and cultivated man, and had a prodigious circle of famous friends.
Less important histories were published in 1788 by Johann Nikolaus Forkel (d. 1818), reaching only to the middle of the 16th century; in 1792 by Christian Kalkbrenner (d. 1806), who was in court service at Berlin, later chorusmaster at the Paris Opéra; and in 1793 by Richard Eastcott (d. 1828). More or less useful Almanachs and other annals were prepared in 1778 and 1792-8 by Christian Gottfried Thomas (d. 1806), a Leipsic composer and publisher; in 1782-4 by Karl Ludwig Junker (d. 1797), who also put forth (1776) studies of some 20 composers, including Emanuel and Christian Bach, Boccherini, Ditters, Grétry and Haydn (poorly done); in 1782-4 and
