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Essential Clementi

"Clementi is a charlatan," wrote Mozart, who engaged in a "piano duel" with the Italian in 1781 (the Emperor, diplomatically, declared it a draw). In more than 100 sonatas, Clementi became an early pioneer of piano style – even if his music was later satirised by the likes of Satie in his 'Sonata bureaucratique'.

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  • Clementi
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    La Chasse for Keyboard in D major op. 16
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    I. Allegro
  • Clementi
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    Symphony No. 1 in C major WoO 32 (completed by A. Casella)
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    I. Larghetto - Allegro vivace
  • Clementi
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    Fantaisie with Variations on 'Au Clair de la Lune' op. 48
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    Largo - Allegretto moderato
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Keyboard in C major op. 2/2
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    I. Presto
  • Clementi
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    Symphony in B flat major op. 18 /1
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    I. Allegro assai
  • Clementi
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    Symphony in B flat major op. 18 /1
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    II. Un poco adagio
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in F sharp minor op. 25/5
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    II. Lento e patetico
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in F sharp minor op. 25/5
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    III. Presto
  • Clementi
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    Symphony in D major op. 18 /2
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    IV. Allegro assai
  • Clementi
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    Capriccio in E minor op. 47/1
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    I. Adagio – II. Allegro agitato
  • Clementi
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    Capriccio in E minor op. 47/1
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    IV. Allegro vivace
  • Clementi
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    Musical Characteristics op. 19
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    2. Preludio II alla Haydn. Allegro
  • Clementi
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    Musical Characteristics op. 19
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    6. Preludio II alla Mozart. Allegro
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in F minor op. 13 /6
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    I. Allegro agitato
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in F minor op. 13 /6
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    II. Largo e sostenuto
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in F minor op. 13 /6
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    III. Presto
  • Clementi
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    Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in C major
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    I. Allegro con spirito
  • Clementi
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    Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in C major
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    II. Adagio e cantabile, con grande espressione
  • Clementi
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    Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in C major
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    III. Presto
  • Clementi
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    Sonatina for Piano in G major op. 36/5
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    I. Presto
  • Clementi
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    Sonatina for Piano in G major op. 36/5
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    II. Original Swiss air. Allegro moderato
  • Clementi
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    Sonatina for Piano in G major op. 36/5
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    III. Rondo. Allegro
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in C major op. 34/1
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    I. Allegro con spirito
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in C major op. 34/1
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    II. Un poco andante quasi allegretto
  • Clementi
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    Sonata for Piano in C major op. 34/1
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    III. Finale. Allegro

Born in Rome four years before Mozart (in 1752), Clementi spent much of his life in England, where he died five years after Beethoven (in 1832). In a long life, his activities extended far beyond composition: he branched out into music publishing, becoming the sole agent for Beethoven's music in London, manufactured pianos and was a founder of what became the Royal Philharmonic Society. Although he wrote a piano concerto and a number of symphonies, his keyboard sonatas were his most influential music. We find Mozart incorporating Clementi's techniques into his later sonatas – despite the supposed rivalry between them – and Beethoven held Clementi's sonatas in the highest regard. Czerny made his pupil Liszt study the sonatas, and Chopin made all his students play them. Nearly every piano stool will contain an ancient, dog-eared volume of Clementi's sonatas, within which may be found an ideal balance between technical challenge and winning lyricism, and an emotional range from galant pleasantries to grand Romantic passion.