Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)

schnittkease · July 01, 2017, 01:19:37 PM

Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)

"Clementi's chief claims to fame are his long series of piano sonatas, many of which have been revived, and his celebrated studies for piano, the Gradus ad Parnassum (1817; "Steps Toward Parnassus"). His own contributions to the development of piano technique coincided with the period of the new instrument's first popularity and did much to establish the lines on which piano playing was to develop; important traces of his influence may be found in the piano works of Haydn, Beethoven, and even Mozart, as well as the next generation of pianist-composers."

Gurn Blanston · July 01, 2017, 01:43:56 PM

A personal favorite of mine, BTW. You're right, it does seem strange.

Clementi was a great friend of Haydn during the latter's London visits. In 1793 when Haydn was unable to return from Vienna for the Season, Clementi sat in for him, leading from the pianoforte. He was also the top piano teacher in London at the time and his students, such as John Field, JB Cramer and Therese Jansen were considered the top players on the London scene if you couldn't get the master himself. Haydn certainly thought so, and later on, so did Beethoven. JB Cramer is the only pianist Beethoven ever said anything good about.

André · January 13, 2018, 01:55:10 PM

I have a question regarding the Mastroprimiano set of 18 discs on Brilliant: how are they packaged ? Individual jewel cases or space-saving envelopes ?

I already 2 volumes of that collection, plus the Arts set by Pietro Spada, which (also at 18 discs) takes a lot of space, and that's not counting individual discs from other artists. I'd consider buying Mastroprimiano's set if it doesn't eat up too much shelf-space...

.

Back to the composer: he's possibly (with Reger and Delius) my most significant discovery in the last 10 years. Every little scrap off his workbench is illuminating (wrote excellent symphonies, too!).

Gurn Blanston · January 13, 2018, 02:02:27 PM

Quote from: André on January 13, 2018, 01:55:10 PM
I have a question regarding the Mastroprimiano set of 18 discs on Brilliant: how are they packaged ? Individual jewel cases or space-saving envelopes ?

I already 2 volumes of that collection, plus the Arts set by Pietro Spada, which (also at 18 discs) takes a lot of space, and that's not counting individual discs from other artists. I'd consider buying Mastroprimiano's set if it doesn't eat up too much shelf-space... .

Back to the composer: he's possibly (with Reger and Delius) my most significant discovery in the last 10 years. Every little scrap off his workbench is illuminating (wrote excellent symphonies, too!).

Wish I could inform you there, but I have the 6 boxes of 3 disks each. Even those are different, some are digipaks, others are 3-disk chubby jewel boxes. I agree, the ideal is a single box with 18 envelopes in it... $:-\$

Que · January 13, 2018, 03:04:39 PM

Quote from: André on January 13, 2018, 01:55:10 PM
I have a question regarding the Mastroprimiano set of 18 discs on Brilliant: how are they packaged ? Individual jewel cases or space-saving envelopes ?

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on January 13, 2018, 02:02:27 PM
Wish I could inform you there, but I have the 6 boxes of 3 disks each. Even those are different, some are digipaks, others are 3-disk chubby jewel boxes. I agree, the ideal is a single box with 18 envelopes in it... $:-\$

It's a single box with envelopes.
When I saw a bargain, I swapped from the 6 volumes to the box set.
It felt a bit odd to buy the same recordings twice just to save space, but at the modest price I haven't regretted it.

Q

Gurn Blanston · January 13, 2018, 04:03:01 PM

Quote from: Que on January 13, 2018, 03:04:39 PM
It's a single box with envelopes.
When I saw a bargain, I swapped from the 6 volumes to the box set.
It felt a bit odd to buy the same recordings twice just to save space, but at the modest price I haven't regretted it.

Q

I would probably do the same, especially since the 6 volumes aren't consistent among themselves. It is like my Arcana Festetics Haydn quartets, a mix of digipaks and chubettes. Made me want to buy the box set when it came out just to clear up my shelf a bit.

André · January 13, 2018, 05:43:09 PM

Gee, thanks for the feedback, guys ! In my cart it goes !!

lordlance · July 21, 2024, 07:52:29 PM

More fortepiano for me, this time courtesy of a YouTube recommendation -

lordlance · July 22, 2024, 10:18:24 AM

Any specific sonata recommendations (on the fortepiano) for Clementi since he wrote 18 discs (!) worth?

SonicMan46 · June 30, 2025, 06:46:55 AM

Quote from: lordlance on July 22, 2024, 10:18:24 AMAny specific sonata recommendations (on the fortepiano) for Clementi since he wrote 18 discs (!) worth?

Hi Lordlance - sorry that no one responded to you early last year, but I just left the post below in the listening thread - now the two sets of recordings that I've owned for a while are at the bottom, i.e. Howard Shelley (piano) in 6 double-disc volumes & Mastroprimiano (fortepianos) on 18 boxed discs. BUT I have just listened to Susan Alexander-Max's 4 discs on a Spotify playlist and was quite impressed - might even be my top choice at the moment? Plus, one does not need to buy into large complete sets - try to stream her for a trial run. Dave

Quote from: SonicMan46 on June 30, 2025, 06:04:11 AMClementi, Muzio - Keyboard Sonatas on fortepiano with Susan Alexander-Max on 4 volumes - unfortunately she died less than a year after the last recording (apparently, cancer in 2016; age not clear, likely under 60 y/o) - she presumably? would have continued putting out these volumes? - the reviewers seem to prefer her interpretations over the others (see attachment). Dave

P.S. listening on a Spotify playlist.