A German pianist and composer who took his early lessons from the "Versuch" of C. P. E. Bach. He was taken to Paris by the piano producer Johann A. Stein. Eckard practiced piano in his spare time and quickly developed his technique and ease of playing. He performed very successfully in concert and gained much aplomb and many students. Grimm and Leopold Mozart both praised his work in composition and performance. Eckard was highly considered throughout his career. As the first Parisian to write keyboard sonatas for piano, and knowing that piano performance would eventually become the rage gave Eckard a place in musical history. Only three works were published which featured sonatas and variations. Although written for the harpsichord Eckard gave clear indications that they could be played on the piano. Compositionally the works demonstrate the influence of Bach and foreshadow the late works of Mozart and Haydn. The dynamic indications contained in the music demonstrate the seriousness with which he considered the piano as a solo instrument as harpsichords were and are dynamically impotent. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi