THE EARLY MUZIO CLEMENTI’S SONATAS: AT THE ORIGINS OF LONDON PIANISM

Abstract

Purpose of the research is to determine the role of M. Clementi in the process of development of the "sounding image of piano " and the scale of his impact on the historical and artistic modernity, It also aims at finding the causes of oblivion of the personality and the works of the composer and pianist in the ХІХ century and the stages of his heritage Renaissance in the performing art and science of the ХХ century. The artistic heritage of the composer Muzio Clementi is considered from the point of view how various stages of the history of London's classicism and incipient Romanticism are represented in it. The study emphasizes that the composer predetermined the processes of the stylistic evolution, presented through the prism of the "sounding image of piano". Studying a creative personality and the piano work of the composer allows for the conclusion about the need for a systematic study of the heritage of Muzio Clementi, as a phenomenon of London pianism. Methodology of the research. Based on the method of comparative analysis of the Piano Sonata, Op. 2 № 1 and examples of the late sonatas of the composer the research defines a paradigmatic function of Clementi early creative experience. Scientific originality is determined by the fact that in Op. 2 № 1 the author reveals the concentrated forms of prototypes of all piano sonatas types, developed in detail in the sonatas of the late period of the composer's work. Conclusion. Historical and artistic value of the Sonata Op. 2 № 1 in the history of the development of London pianism is defined as a prognostic, because it shows different types of technical, dynamic and artistic features of piano, developed in the late composer’s sonatas. In particular, in Sonata Op. 2 №1 the study identifies some features of bravura, theatrical, pathetic, concert and fantasy types of pianism, implemented in the sonatas Op.7 – 10, Op. 20 – 26, Op. 46 – 50. The research determines a historical and artistic role of the analyzed sonata not only as genre-style matrix of Muzio Clementi’s piano works, but also as a kind of dictionary of the piano style of the era. The characteristics of Muzio Clementi pianism are universalism, intellectualism and pragmatism, which define the essence of the piano style of the head of London School.