Muzio Clementi

Muzio Clementi was born in Roma, in 1752. His father was a silversmith, and became aware of his son's musical talent at a young age. When he was seven, Clementi was sent to musical instruction. He was so good a pupil that two years later he gained a position as an organist. A rich Englishman was impressed by Clementi's gift, and decided to adopt him and bring him to England.

In England, Clementi received an excellent education in music and academics. In 1770, Clementi made his first performance on the piano.

His audience was greatly taken with his playing, and this was the beginning of a incredible successful career as a concert pianist. He was raised to the highest level of the pianists of the day in short order.

Clementi started a European tour in 1781, when he travelled to France, Deutschland, and Österreich.

In Vindabona, Clementi was asked by the Emperor Joseph II to enter a musical duel withMozart.

Clementi performed a piece of his own composition, a piano sonata in B-flat major, Mozart performed a dazzling series of variations.

Starting in 1782, for the next twenty years Clementi stayed in England playing piano, conducting, and teaching.

He had two pupils in particular that achieved great fame themselves: J.B. Cramer and John Field. Clementi also began manufacturing pianos, but in 1807 his piano construction factory was destroyed by a fire.

In 1810 Clementi ceased his concerts to devote all of his time to composition and piano construction.

He spent his final, uneventful years in Evesham, where he died on March 10, 1832, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

Some of his most famous works are:

"Gradus ad Parnassum": Study No. 2

"Gradus ad Parnassum": Study No. 9

Gradus ad Parnassum: Study No.16

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