Howard Shelley - Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1-6 '2008-2010

Tracks list

Tracklist

Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1
CD1
01. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: I. Allegro comodo
02. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1: II. Tempo di minuetto
03. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2: I. Spiritoso
04. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2: II. Allegro assai
05. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 3: I. Maestoso
06. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 3: II. Andantino grazioso
07. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 1 No. 4: I. Spiritoso
08. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 1 No. 4: II. Larghetto
09. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 1 No. 4: III. Rondeaux
10. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 1 No. 5: I. Larghetto
11. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 1 No. 5: II. Tempo di menuetto. Grazioso
12. Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 1 No. 6: I. Moderato
13. Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 1 No. 6: II. Rondeau. Grazioso
14. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 2 No. 2: I. Presto
15. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 2 No. 2: II. Rondeau. Spiritoso
16. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 2 No. 4: I. Allegro assai
17. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 2 No. 4: II. Spiritoso
18. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: I. Allegro di molto
19. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 2 No. 6: II. Prestissimo
20. Piano Sonata in G Major, WoO 14
CD2
01. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 No. 1: I. Allegro
02. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 No. 1: II. Mesto
03. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 No. 1: III. Allegro spiritoso –
Allegro – Tempo I
04. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 7 No. 2: I. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 7 No. 2: II. Allegretto con espressione
– Allegro
06. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 7 No. 3: I. Allegro espressivo
07. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 7 No. 3: II. [Adagio]. Cantabile
08. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 7 No. 3: III. Allegro agitato
09. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 1: I. Allegro
10. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 1: II. Andante cantabile
11. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 1: III. Presto
12. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 2: I. Allegro assai
13. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 2: II. Larghetto con espressione
14. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 2: III. Rondeau. Allegro
15. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 3: I. Presto
16. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 3: II. Minuetto. Allegretto
17. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 3: III. Rondeau. Allegretto grazioso
18. Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, WoO 13: I. Allegro ma non troppo
19. Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, WoO 13: II. Larghetto
20. Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, WoO 13: III. Allegro assai

This is the first volume in a complete chronological survey of the Clementi
sonatas which we hope to complete in six ’2 for the price of 1’
double CD sets released over the next three years. There is very little
competition for this repertoire and indeed this volume appears to include the
first ever recording of Clementi’s six sonatas Opus 1.

Muzio Clementi was for much of his long career one of the most famous musicians
in Europe. Around the turn of the nineteenth century his public esteem was
probably second only to that of Haydn, and, a decade or so later, Beethoven. But
unlike the reputations of these other two, Clementi’s fame as a musician
rested almost solely upon his exploits, as both player and composer, at a single
instrument, the piano. And the vast majority of his compositions are sonatas for
that instrument. This is a fascinating body of work which spans European musical
life from Scarlatti to Chopin.

This is Howard Shelley’s hundredth CD release and Hyperion congratulates
him on an extraordinary achievement.

Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2
CD1
01. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 1: I. Allegro assai
02. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 1: II. Larghetto
03. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 1: III. Rondo. Prestissimo
04. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 9 No. 2: I. Allegro assai
05. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 9 No. 2: II. Lento
06. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 9 No. 2: III. Rondo. Allegro spiritoso
07. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 3: I. Allegro assai
08. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 3: II. Larghetto
09. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 3: III. Prestissimo
10. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 10 No. 1: I. Allegro con spirito
11. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 10 No. 1: II. Menuetto. Allegretto con moto
– Trio
12. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 10 No. 1: III. Prestissimo
13. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 10 No. 2: I. Maestoso
14. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 10 No. 2: II. Presto
15. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 10 No. 3: I. Presto
16. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 10 No. 3: II. Andante con espressione
17. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 10 No. 3: III. Allegro assai
CD2
01. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 11 No. 1: I. Allegro
02. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 11 No. 1: II. Larghetto con espressione
03. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 11 No. 1: III. Rondeau. Allegro di molto
04. Toccata in B-Flat Major, Op. 11 No. 2
05. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 1: I. Presto
06. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 1: II. Larghetto con espressione
07. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 1: III. Lindor with Variations.
Allegretto
08. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: I. Presto
09. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: II. Largo
10. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Rondo. Allegro assai
11. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 12 No. 3: I. Allegro di molto
12. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 12 No. 3: II. Largo
13. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 12 No. 3: III. Rondeau. Allegro
14. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 4: I. Allegro
15. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 4: II. Lento
16. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 4: III. Rondeau. Allegro con
spirito

This is the second volume in a complete chronological survey of the Clementi
sonatas which we hope to complete in six ’2 for the price of 1’
double CD sets released over the next three years. After the somewhat frivolous
delights of Volume 1, Volume 2 displays Clementi in more serious and weighty
form. The selection recorded here, particularly the Op 12 sonatas, is of pieces
that begin to reveal depths of expression seldom encountered in the
composer’s earlier music.

Muzio Clementi was for much of his long career one of the most famous musicians
in Europe. Around the turn of the nineteenth century his public esteem was
probably second only to that of Haydn, and, a decade or so later, Beethoven. But
unlike the reputations of these other two, Clementi’s fame as a musician
rested almost solely upon his exploits, as both player and composer, at a single
instrument, the piano. And the vast majority of his compositions are sonatas for
that instrument. This is a fascinating body of work which spans European musical
life from Scarlatti to Chopin.

Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 3
CD1
01. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 13 No. 4: I. Allegro con spirito
02. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 13 No. 4: II. Adagio
03. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 13 No. 4: III. Allegro assai
04. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 13 No. 5: I. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 13 No. 5: II. Larghetto
06. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 13 No. 5: III. Presto
07. Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 13 No. 6: I. Allegro agitato
08. Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 13 No. 6: II. Largo e sostenuto
09. Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 13 No. 6: III. Presto
10. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 20: I. Allegro
11. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 20: II. Larghetto con espressione
12. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 20: III. Allegro molto
13. Piano Sonata in F Major, WoO 3: I. Vivace
14. Piano Sonata in F Major, WoO 3: II. Rondeau. Spiritoso
CD2
01. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 23 No. 1: I. Allegro molto
02. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 23 No. 1: II. Rondeau. Vivace
03. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 23 No. 2: I. Allegro con spirito
04. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 23 No. 2: II. Adagio
05. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 23 No. 2: III. Rondo. Allegretto con spirito
06. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 23 No. 3: I. Allegro con vivacita
07. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 23 No. 3: II. Air with Variations.
Allegretto vivace
08. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 24 No. 1: I. Allegro assai
09. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 24 No. 1: II. Adagio
10. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 24 No. 1: III. Arietta con variazioni. Vivace
11. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 24 No. 2: I. Allegro con brio
12. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 24 No. 2: II. Andante
13. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 24 No. 2: III. Rondo. Allegro assai

Howard Shelley’s series of Clementi’s piano sonatas is receiving
great critical acclaim and is increasing popular interest in this under-recorded
composer. The sonatas in the present volume date from the period just after
Clementi’s adventures in Europe of 1780–83 that included an
unfortunate and well-known confrontation with Mozart, and a protracted stay in
Lyons. Clementi moved back to London and there had a considerable reputation as
a performer, composer and teacher. His playing was praised, among other things,
for its ‘novel freedoms in tempo and dynamics in the service of heightened
expression’ and those qualities are noticeable in the works recorded
here.

Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4
CD1
01. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 25 No. 1: I. Allegro di molto
02. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 25 No. 1: II. Adagio
03. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 25 No. 1: III. Rondeau. Presto
04. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 25 No. 2: I. Allegro con brio
05. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 25 No. 2: II. Rondo un poco allegro
06. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 3: I. Allegro
07. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 3: II. Rondo. Vivace
08. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 25 No. 4: I. Maestoso e cantabile
09. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 25 No. 4: II. Molto allegro
10. Piano Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 5: I. Più tosto allegro con
espressione
11. Piano Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 5: II. Lento e patetico
12. Piano Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 5: III. Presto
13. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 25 No. 6: I. Presto
14. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 25 No. 6: II. Un poco andante
15. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 25 No. 6: III. Rondo. Allegro assai
CD2
01. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 26: I. Allegro
02. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 26: II. Rondeau. Allegretto
03. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 33 No. 1: I. Allegro
04. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 33 No. 1: II. Presto
05. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 33 No. 2: I. Adagio – Allegro con fuoco
06. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 33 No. 2: II. Presto
07. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3: I. Allegro spirito
08. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3: II. Adagio e cantabile con grand'
espressione
09. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3: III. Presto
10. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 41: I. Allegro ma con grazia
11. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 41: II. Adagio molto e con anima
12. Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 41: III. Allegro molto vivace

Howard Shelley’s splendid series of Clementi’s complete piano
sonatas continues with a fourth volume containing some of the composer’s
most important works. The ten sonatas of Opp 25, 26, and 33 that Shelley
performs in this recording are all products of a period in Clementi’s
life when he was the darling of the London music scene, acclaimed by
contemporaries in the most effusive language: ‘But the performance beyond
all others to astonish, was Clementi’s concerto on the Piano Forte: what
brilliancy of finger, and wonderful execution! The powers of the instrument were
never called forth with superior skill, perhaps not equal’.

As well as the elements of virtuosity described above, the works recorded
here—particularly the fourth and fifth of the Opp 25
sonatas—contain a high degree of compositional originality and
forward-looking piano writing. The A major sonata (No 4) has a curiously
nineteenth-century sound. The first movement, Maestoso e cantabile, displays a
profusion of melodic ornament reminiscent of Chopin. The fifth, perhaps
Clementi’s greatest sonata, was much championed by Horowitz, among
others.

Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 5
CD1
01. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 34 No. 1: I. Allegro con spirito
02. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 34 No. 1: II. Un poco andante, quasi allegretto
03. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 34 No. 1: III. Finale. Allegro
04. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 34 No. 2: I. Largo e sostenuto – Allegro
con fuoco
05. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 34 No. 2: II. Un poco adagio
06. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 34 No. 2: III. Finale. Molto allegro
07. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 1: I. Allegro
08. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 1: II. Andante
09. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 1: III. Vivace
10. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36 No. 2: I. Allegretto
11. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36 No. 2: II. Allegretto
12. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36 No. 2: III. Allegro
13. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 3: I. Spiritoso
14. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 3: II. Un poco adagio
15. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 3: III. Allegro
16. Sonatina in F Major, Op. 36 No. 4: I. Con spirito
17. Sonatina in F Major, Op. 36 No. 4: II. Andante con espressione
18. Sonatina in F Major, Op. 36 No. 4: III. Rondeau. Allegro vivace
19. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36 No. 5: I. Presto
20. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36 No. 5: II. Allegretto moderato 'Original Swiss
Air'
21. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36 No. 5: III. Rondo. Allegro di molto
22. Sonatina in D Major, Op. 36 No. 6: I. Allegro con spirito
23. Sonatina in D Major, Op. 36 No. 6: II. Rondo. Allegretto spiritoso
CD2
01. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 37 No. 1: I. Allegro di molto
02. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 37 No. 1: II. Adagio sostenuto
03. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 37 No. 1: III. Finale. Vivace
04. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 37 No. 2: I. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 37 No. 2: II. Adagio 'In the Solemn Style'
06. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 37 No. 2: III. Allegro con spirito
07. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 37 No. 3: I. Allegro
08. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 37 No. 3: II. Allegretto vivace
09. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 37 No. 3: III. Finale. Presto
10. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 46: I. Introduzione. Larghetto cantabile
– Allegro con brio
11. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 46: II. Adagio cantabile e sostenuto
12. Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 46: III. Finale. Allegro con fuoco

Howard Shelley’s acclaimed series of the complete Piano Sonatas of
Clementi reaches its penultimate volume. In the latter half of the 1790s, when
all the sonatas and sonatinas heard in this recording (with the exception of the
Sonata Op 46) were published, Clementi apparently devoted his energies mainly to
teaching. His pupils included members of well-placed families in London who were
able to meet his reported fee of one guinea per lesson. He also had among his
students aspiring professionals, including J B Cramer, Theresa Jansen,
Benoit-August Bertini, and John Field.

The sonatas heard here, owing to their technical difficulty, appear for the most
part to be addressed to such students and other accomplished pianists—and
perhaps for Clementi’s own performance in private circles. The sonatinas
are clearly intended for less advanced pupils; today they are Clementi’s
most well-known works as countless young pianists are still given them for
instruction. Therefore this set should be of particular interest to many of
those pupils and their teachers.

Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 6
CD1
01. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 40 No. 1: I. Allegro molto vivace
02. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 40 No. 1: II. Adagio, sostenuto e cantabile
03. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 40 No. 1: III. Allegro
04. Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 40 No. 1: IV. Finale. Presto
05. Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 40 No. 2: I. Molto adagio e sostenuto –
Allegro con fuoco e con espressione
06. Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 40 No. 2: IIa. Largo mesto e patetico
07. Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 40 No. 2: IIb. Allegro – Tempo I
– Presto
08. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 40 No. 3: I. Adagio molto – Allegro
09. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 40 No. 3: II. Adagio con molto espressione
10. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 40 No. 3: III. Allegro
CD2
01. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: I. Allegro maestoso e con sentimento
02. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio sostenuto e patetico
03. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: III. Allegro vivace
04. Piano Sonata in D Minor, Op. 50 No. 2: I. Allegro non troppo ma con energia
05. Piano Sonata in D Minor, Op. 50 No. 2: II. Adagio con espressione
06. Piano Sonata in D Minor, Op. 50 No. 2: III. Allegro con fuoco, ma non troppo
presto
07. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 50 No. 3 "Didone abbandonata": I. Largo
patetico e sostenuto – Allegro ma con espressione
08. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 50 No. 3 "Didone abbandonata": II. Adagio
dolente
09. Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 50 No. 3 "Didone abbandonata": III. Allegro
agitato, e con disperazione

Howard Shelley’s series of Clementi’s Piano Sonatas has received
the highest critical acclaim and reawoken interest in this important body of
piano music. Today, the composer has been overshadowed by his great rivals; but,
as this unique series has shown, the best of his sonatas can equal Mozart and
Haydn and were clearly a huge influence on the young Beethoven.

This sixth and final volume contains some of the most complex, virtuosic and
large-scale works that Clementi wrote for the keyboard, written for performance
in London concert halls, by the great pianists of the day, for a fashionable and
discerning audience.



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