Clementi Muzio

Clementi, Muzio, was born at Rome in 1752. He showed a precocious talent for music, and at the age of nine was so proficient in theory and practice that he was appointed organist at a church, and five years later wrote a promising mass. Beckford, the author of Vathek, induced him to come to England, where in 1770 he made his first public appearance with great success. In 1777 he became conductor of the Italian Opera, but soon after went to Paris and Vienna, where his reception was enthusiastic. In the latter city he engaged in a kind of musical contest with Mozart, coming out of the ordeal with high credit. Returning to London, he spent twelve years as a teacher, performer, and manufacturer of pianos. With John Field, one of his ablest pupils, he undertook a long continental tour in 1804, giving advice and instruction to Meyerbeer at Berlin. He came back to England in 1810, but refused to play any more in public, devoting himself to composition. He has been justly regarded as the founder of modern pianoforte playing. His skill was remarkable even in his later days, and his great collection of Etudes, known as the Gradus ad Parnassum, still remains one of the most valuable works of instruction. He left also about sixty sonatas for his favourite instrument. His death occurred at Evesham in 1832.