Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) was primarily a pianist in his day. A child prodigy who was taught for two years by Mozart and later by Haydn, and later still friends with Beethoven and Schubert, Hummel remained respected throughout his life though his classical style was becoming “old fashioned” as the Romantic era and its more expressive and dramatic performers and composers emerged on the scene. Socially, he created one of the first pension funds for musicians and performed benefit concerts to replenish its funding when it got low, and he advocated for musical copyright protections against piracy. As a composer, he also wrote for the guitar (which he played well) and for other instruments. From 1805, Hummel’s Grand Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra” is today’s Midday Masterpiece at 2:00 pm.