CLEMENTI, kItt-ma'te, Mum° (1752-1832). An Italian piano virtuoso and composer, born in Rome. His father, a goldsmith and • fer vent music-lover, placed him under a relative, Buroni, for lessons in piano and harmony, and in 1761 Clementi became an organist.. Later on, Carpani taught him counterpoint; and Sarta relli, singing. In 1766 an Englishman. Beck ford, delighted with his playing, took him to England. where he continued his musical studies until 1770. He was now a finished virtuoso, and published three piano sonatas (Op. 2)—the first works of this kind that hear the modern form. His success as a performer in London was extra ordinary, and in 1777-80 he was cembalist (con ductor) at the 'Italian opera there. His first tour (1781) included Strassburg, Munich. and Vienna, where his public contest with Mozart became an historic event, though the palm was awarded to neither. Ile aroused great enthusiasm in Paris (1785), but, in spite of it. decided to enter busi ness. lie returned to London. secured an inter est in the publishing and piano-manufacturing firm of Longman & Broderip, and after its fail ure formed a partnership with Collard. The mechanical perfection of the piano absorbed most of his energies, yet he found time to write theo retical works, and to give instruction—a field in which he had no rival. His concert tours in
Russia (1802), and afterwards in Germany and Italy, were wonderfully successful ; but his enter prises in London, by which he amassed a fortune. claimed most of his attention. He retired in old age to his estate at Evesham, near London. and /tied there March 10, 1832. Among Clementi's pupils, Field, Cramer, 3loseheles, Kalkhrenner, and Meyerbeer are the most noteworthy. Even Beethoven owes much to Clementi in his works lor the piano. his style as a performer was that of a virtuoso, characterized by polish, vigor, and brilliancy, and a beautiful singing tone; and he especially excelled in improvisation. Of his works the sonatas arc brilliant and melodious, while his series of exercises, Gradns ad Pumas sum (1817), remains an indispensable work in every pianist's equipment. Consult : Ferris, Great Violinists and Pianists (New York, 1894) ; Shedlock, 7'he Pianoforte Sonata (London.1895) ; Frojo, Clemcnti, la sna rile, le sue opere sun i»Ilitenza sal progress° dell' arts 1878).