Clementi, "Father of the Piano"

-

Toccata in B-flat Major, Op.11 No.2: Prestissimo, Muzio Clementi

Clementi was an Italian-born, British pianist and composer whose studies and sonatas developed the techniques of the early piano to such an extent that he was called the "father of the piano". Listen to his Toccata (from the Italian toccare meaning, literally 'to touch' - a piece intended to show off the performer's 'touch') performed virtuosically by Costantino Mastroprimiano:



Conrad Graf | Fortepiano | Austrian | The Met

A 'fortepiano' is an early version of what we now simply call the 'piano'. Most typically it is used to refer to the late-18th early-19th century and it is the instrument for which composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Clementi composed their piano oeuvres for. 

Muzio Clementi (1752–1832) was an Italian-born English ...
Muzio Clementi (1752 - 1832)

As a young prodigy, Clementi came to the attention of Peter Beckford (twelve years Clementi's senior), who persuaded Clementi's father that Muzio come to England. From 1766, Clementi lived quietly in Wiltshire where he pursued a rigorous course of studies. 


Portrait of Sir Peter Beckford, Clementi's patron (1740 - 1811) by Pompeo Batoni

In 1773, Clementi moved to London and met with immediate and lasting success as a composer and pianist. The piano had become more popular in England than anywhere else, and Clementi, in studying its special features, made brilliant use of the new instrument and its capabilities. He toured Europe and on one particular instance, in Vienna, he became engaged in a friendly musical duel with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the instigation of the emperor, Joseph II. However, later, Mozart remarked that Clementi was:

"...A charlatan, like all Italians..."
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This contributed to the weakening of the market for Clementi's music. However, Clementi was a shrewd businessman and co-founded a firm for both music publishing and the manufacture of fortepianos. He also taught, and among his numerous pupils was John Field, who is considered the first composer to write 'nocturnes' for the piano, providing the archetype for Chopin. 

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Wikipedia


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

O-Daiko

-
Image
Daily Hit of Music's 100th post! Thank you for reading our posts on Daily Hit of Music. We hope you're enjoying them and here's to the next 100! Eitetsu Hayashi is an acclaimed Japanese musician best known for his solo performance work in taiko. Taiko are a broad rang of Japanese percussion instruments. In Japanese, the term refers to any kind of drum, but outside of Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called wadaiko . The process of constructing taiko varies between manufacturers, and the preparation of both the drum body and skin can take several years depending on the method.  Eitetsu Hayashi performing in 2001 Image source   In feudal Japan, taiko were often used to motivate troops, call out orders or announcements, and set a marching pace; marches usually being set to six paces per beat of the drum.  Watch Ei-tetsu Hayashi's exhilarating performance on a huge o-daiku barrel drum. He performs alongside the Shamisen master, Sh
Read more

Vivaldi: Vedrò con mio diletto

-
Image
As well as being the prototype of the modern violin virtuoso - expanding the technical possibilities of the instrument - Antonio Vivaldi also wrote some beautiful vocal music.  Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) Image source The aria "Vedrò con mio diletto", has became a famous concert piece to sing, especially for countertenors, but was originally intended to be sung by the character  Anastasio in Vivaldi's opera 'Giustino'.  Listen to it here: DHM YouTube Italian (original) Text: Vedrò con mio diletto L'alma dell'alma mia Il core del mio cor pien di contento. E se dal caro oggetto lungi convien che sia Sospirero penando ogni momento... Text translation:  I will see with joy, the soul of my soul heart of my heart full of content. And if from my dear object I be far away I will sigh, suffering every moment...  This blog is intended to be educational and to share knowledge about music. Daily Hit of Music does not claim to own anything contained in this post and
Read more

Reform: Infelix Ego

-
Image
Infelix ego  ("Alas, wretch that I am") is a Latin meditation on the opening section of the Expositio upon Psalm 51, Miserere mei Deus , written by the Italian Christian preacher, reformer and martyr, Girolamo Savonarola. He was renowned for his conflict with tyrannical rulers and a corrupt clergy. After the overthrow of the Medici in 1494, Savonarola was the sole leader of Florence, successfully setting up a democratic republic.  Girolamo Savonarola (1452 - 1498) Image source Savonarola's triumph was too great and too sudden not to give rise to jealousy and suspicion. He wrote this text once he eventually found himself in prison, after being tortured on the rack. The victim's ankles were fastened to one roller and the wrists to another. As the interrogation from the corrupt authorities progressed, a handle gradually increased the tension on the chains, inducing excruciating pain. This rack would strain the ropes until the sufferer's joints were dislocated and eve
Read more