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Details
CLEMENTI, Muzio (1752-1832). Autograph letter signed to his father Nicolo, Vienna, 24 December 1781, and autograph letter signed to his brother Gaetano, London, 12 March 1802, in Italian, together 5 pages, 4to, integral address panels (seal tears repaired with tape, short tears to folds on letter of 1802).
CLEMENTI ON THE DAY OF HIS PIANO CONTEST WITH MOZART. Clementi writes to his father in 1781 about the difficulties of receiving his letters owing to his peregrinations across Europe: having left Berlin and Bordeaux, he has been persuaded to come to Vienna by the presence of the Grand Duke of Russia: 'this evening I will have the honour of being introduced to the Grand Duchess, who wants to hear me on the clavichord'; he promises to send money and is anxious for news - 'mi par 3000 anni che non ho ricevute delle vostre lettere' (it seems 3000 years since I've received any letters from you); he ends with a glittering list of social engagements. In 1802 he writes affectionately to his brother concerning the shipment of a piano of his firm's manufacture for his granddaughter together with a box of 'excellent glass' for his sister: the glass for a variety of types of spectacles ('vetro buon per occhiali, occhialini, occhialoni ed occhialacci') has proved very difficult to find; he also includes various of his compositions and two books of pieces for organ or piano.
Perhaps the most celebrated incident of Clementi's life was the 'piano contest' against Mozart staged on 24 December 1781 by Emperor Joseph II for the amusement of the Grand Duke of Russia (later Tsar Paul I) and the Duchess: it is this event that the letter to his father refers to. The two musicians were asked to improvise, to play their own compositions, and to sight-read sonatas by Paisiello. Mozart's impression of Clementi was unfavourable: he described him as 'a charlatan, like all Italians'; Clementi on the other hand declared of Mozart 'Until then I had never heard anyone play with such spirit and grace'. After 1785 he settled in London, where he established a reputation as a performer, teacher, instrument maker and publisher. At the time of the 1802 letter to his brother he was on the eve of setting out on a European tour which combined recitals with promoting his pianos and securing publishing rights, and was to keep him abroad for eight years. (2)
CLEMENTI ON THE DAY OF HIS PIANO CONTEST WITH MOZART. Clementi writes to his father in 1781 about the difficulties of receiving his letters owing to his peregrinations across Europe: having left Berlin and Bordeaux, he has been persuaded to come to Vienna by the presence of the Grand Duke of Russia: 'this evening I will have the honour of being introduced to the Grand Duchess, who wants to hear me on the clavichord'; he promises to send money and is anxious for news - 'mi par 3000 anni che non ho ricevute delle vostre lettere' (it seems 3000 years since I've received any letters from you); he ends with a glittering list of social engagements. In 1802 he writes affectionately to his brother concerning the shipment of a piano of his firm's manufacture for his granddaughter together with a box of 'excellent glass' for his sister: the glass for a variety of types of spectacles ('vetro buon per occhiali, occhialini, occhialoni ed occhialacci') has proved very difficult to find; he also includes various of his compositions and two books of pieces for organ or piano.
Perhaps the most celebrated incident of Clementi's life was the 'piano contest' against Mozart staged on 24 December 1781 by Emperor Joseph II for the amusement of the Grand Duke of Russia (later Tsar Paul I) and the Duchess: it is this event that the letter to his father refers to. The two musicians were asked to improvise, to play their own compositions, and to sight-read sonatas by Paisiello. Mozart's impression of Clementi was unfavourable: he described him as 'a charlatan, like all Italians'; Clementi on the other hand declared of Mozart 'Until then I had never heard anyone play with such spirit and grace'. After 1785 he settled in London, where he established a reputation as a performer, teacher, instrument maker and publisher. At the time of the 1802 letter to his brother he was on the eve of setting out on a European tour which combined recitals with promoting his pianos and securing publishing rights, and was to keep him abroad for eight years. (2)
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