Clementi+-+by+Joey

=__Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)__=

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Biography
Born in Rome in 24th January 1752, Clementi studied and had a gift for music at a very young age and attained the position of organist at San Lorenzo in Damaso when he was only thirteen years old. His talent and extreme intelligence for music has attracted Peter Beckford and Clementi taught himself the harpsichord at Beckford's house house in Dorset. In 1774, he moved to London and his performances, especially Op. 2 (179), had gained him more reputation. He is also well-acknowledged by those in Paris and had played for Marie Antoinette, the former and last queen of France. It wasn't until around 1790 that he taught himself the fortepiano, which was with great success.

Sonata Form
Many composers from the classical period, including Clementi himself, wrote many of their songs in **sonata form**.

A sonata usually consists of three to five movements, following an ABA (A meaning first section and B meaning contrasting section) structure. The first movement, also known as the Exposition, usually starts in the tonic key and are usually very fast in tempo and typically ends in a codetta and transition to the second theme. The second movement, also known as the Development, contrasts the Exposition in a slower tempo, is played in the dominant key and is arguably the most dramatic section of the sonata. The third and last section, also known as the Recapitulation (recap), summarises the song and and refers back to the Exposition and is played in the tonic key.

**Characteristics from the Classical Period**
The classical period lasted for 70 years, beginning in 1750 and ending in 1820. It came after the Baroque Period (1600-1750) and came before the Romantic Period (1820-1900) and the 20th Century Period (1900-2000).

A key factor of music in the classical period include the **contrast and fluctuation of mood** and **emotion** in which is displayed throughout the songs.

There is a great deal of contrast between different themes and movement of classical pieces; the first movement generally holds a strong melody line in a faster pace, whilst the second movement is played in much more dramatic and emotional techniques. Not only do these contrasts portray when comparing two movements in a classical piece, but a movement alone may have striking contrasts itself. Changes of these moods can clash in a very sudden manner, or can be expressed in a much more gradual way. Classical pieces can range from rushes of elation and euphoria all the way to the dreariness of darkness and sadness. But ultimately, the fluctuation of moods and emotions are strictly controlled by the composer themselves. Many successful composers such as Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart were able to effectively convey a broad range of moods whilst displaying harmony and logic in their songs at the same time.

Also, many classical pieces were well-known to incorporate a vast flexibility of **tempos** as well as **rhythmical patterns**.

Examples of this include spontaneous pauses during the piece, syncopations (where composers dislodge the beats and accents to weaken strong beats and conversely), and recurrent adjustments from long notes to more succinct and crisp notes. Sudden to gradual changes from one pattern of not lengths to another also occur in the pieces of the classical period.

The unique style of **texture** and the **layering of the instruments** is also a crucial part of the distinctive identity of the pieces written in the classical period.

Essentially, most, if not almost all, classical songs are homophonic, which is where the rhythm and beat of the accompaniment is the same as the melody. But on the other hand, the texture of classical music is equally as adaptable as the rhythm, and movements may texturally transition either fluidly or abruptly from one another. A piece may exhibit a homophonic introduction with a melody and a simple accompaniment, but then may shift to a polyphonic texture that's more intricate and may feature two continuous melodies and/or melodic segments emulated amongst other various instruments.

In addition, the **melodies and themes** were well-renowned in classical music.

The most euphonious and catchy melodies are undeniably the melodies of classical music, thus making them quite effortless to remember. Some themes may have a folk as well as a favoured quality amongst many people, due to the thoroughly intricate compositions in which exists in the themes. Though some composers may borrow catchy tunes in which they don't own, it is more frequent that they wrote their own themes, which were with a well-liked disposition. As classical melodies consist of two phrases of the same duration, they tend to have more of a proportional and balanced sound. Though the second phrase may seem to be similar to the beginning of the first phrase, it tends to end more indisputably.

Finally, many pieces written in the classical period also display more gradual **dynamics** and smoother transitions between **louds and softs**.

During the classical period, the interest of expressing different variations of emotions of many composers, such as Mozart and Haydn, have lead them to branch out and use more measured and gradual dynamic transitions called crescendos (soft to loud) and decrescendos (loud to soft), rather than limiting themselves to the sudden variation of louds and softs, which exists in Baroque music. The exhilarating originality of crescendos and decrescendos have lead many audiences to rise from their seats in excitement and because of these factors, it has lead many for a longing for steady dynamic alterations, thus leading the harpsichord to be replaced by the fortepiano.

Sacred music written by Clementi
Unfortunately, Clementi was not known for writing any pieces or compositions of sacred music during the classical period.

Sacred music is a piece that is written for religious and holy purposes and practices e.g. church music and examples include:
 * **A mass** - consists of instruments such as the classic pipe organ and smaller bowed and wind instruments may adapt into a mass. The purpose of a mass is to capture and appreciate God's majesty and may have a polyphonic texture.
 * **Much of the term** frequently refers to the masses of Roman Catholic Churches and it contains the six following sections (in order): the Kyrie (Kyrie eleison) meaning, 'Lord have mercy', Gloria ( Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax ) , meaning, 'Glory in the highest of God. And on earth peace', Credo (Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem), meaning, 'I believe in one God, Father Almighty', Sanctus (Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus), meaning, 'Holy Holy Holy', Benedictus (Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini), meaning, 'Blessed who comes in the name of Lord', and Agnus Dei (Agnus Die, qui tollis peccata mundi), meaning, 'Lamb of God, who take away sins of world'.
 * **When combined together**, it adds up to the ordinary of the Eucharist, also known as the Holy Communion meaning 'The Lord's Supper'.
 * **Some examples** of masses in the classical period include Mozart's Requiem Mass (music commemorated for the dead) in D minor as well as Beethoven's mass in C major.

Secular music written by Clementi
Unfortunately, Clementi was not known for writing any secular music pieces and compositions during the classical period.

Secular music is any piece that opposes sacred music, the 'secular' meaning worldly and is less sophisticated. However, like sacred music, it has a polyphonic texture. It is not associated or correlated with any form of religion and is instead used for entertainment purposes. Secular music has developed over the Medieval and Renaissance period and has lead into the classical era. Examples include:
 * **Mozart** - //Gehn wir im Prater// in B flat major (secular canon for four voices).
 * **Beethoven** - //Elegiac song// (Elegischer Gesang) ("Sanft wie du lebtest") for 4 voices and string quartet, Op. 118.

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Choral music written by Clementi
Unfortunately, Clementi was not known for writing any choral music pieces and compositions during the classical period.

Choral music is a piece written and sung by a choir composing of more than two voices each with different lines. It is generally polyphonic, as it consists of more than two different and individual vocal parts. Examples include:
 * **Beethoven** - //Choral Symphony// No.9 Op. 125 in D minor; //Choral Fantasia// Op. 80 in C Minor.
 * **Mozart** - //Scande Coeli Limina// in C major; //Misa Brevis// in G major.

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Instrumental music written by Clementi
Instrumental music is intended for a performance of a group of instruments, or an instrument by itself; the basis of instrumental music is that there is not to be human vocals heard in the performance. Some of Clementi's instrumental works include:
 * ** Early Piano Sonatas (Vol. 1-3) and Keyboard Sonatas ** - A piano sonata is written in sonata form, applies the same sonata structure and can range from multiple movements to a single movement. The only exception is that only a piano may be played in a piano sonata.
 * **Gradus ad Parnassum (Vol. 1-4)** - //Gradus ad Parnassum// are a series of études or other musical compositions which are made into a book. The pieces are then arranged in order from the easiest to the hardest.
 * **Symphonies (Orchestral)** - an orchestra is a large group of different various instruments, usually consisting of percussion, woodwind, strings and brass that perform together and a symphony is a large orchestra.
 * ** Dialogue for Two Organs ** - dialogue means a verbal exchange and conversation between two or more people. In this case, it is a composition for two organs, or two or more of any instrument/voices when excluding the 'Two Organs' in the title, 'Dialogue for Two organs'.
 * ** Chamber works - [Italian] Harp Music and strings and piano ** - Chamber music is written for a small ensemble, consisting of no more than ten instruments and is traditionally designed to perform in small-medium-sized rooms and reception halls, but are generally favoured to be performed in concert halls nowadays. There is no conductor that is to compose a piece of chamber music and in this case, Clementi wrote chamber music for harps, strings and pianos.

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Joey's favourite piece by Clementi
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