Muzio Clementi
Sonatina
in C Major, Op. 36 No. 1

Far from being a mere exercise for beginners, all three movements of this sonatina are exquisitely crafted and can really grab the attention of an audience. It has everything that a piano sonata should have, but in a smaller scale, making it accessible to less experienced pianists.

ID: 1426
Muzio Clementi - Sonatinas:

Sonatina
Op. 36 No. 1

Key: C Major
Year: 1797
Level: 3
Period: Classical
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Urtext Download
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Edition Download
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Piano Music AST Audiovisual Study Tool Listen & View
piano music mp3 recording Sonatina Op. 36 No. 1 1st mvt - FREE SAMPLE (mp3 file)
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piano music mp3 recording Sonatina Op. 36 No. 1 3rd mvt - FREE SAMPLE (mp3 file)

Your ticket to the world of piano sonatas

This sonatina by Clementi is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with classical sonata form. The Op. 36 sonatinas are numbered in order of increasing difficulty, which means that this one has the most basic “lessons” on classical piano technique. The pianist gets a chance to practice the chords and scales of c major in an easy format, but in a real context of musical artistry. The first movement can be described according to classical sonata form, and has a first theme based on the C major triad plus a descending C major scale, and a second theme in the dominant G major, with more scales and passage work for the right hand. The second part develops the the theme in the minor mode. Finally, the themes are both recapitulated in C major with some interesting variations.

The second movement has a beautiful cantabile melody in F major, with elements of double note playing, and with a broken chord accompaniment. The transition into the final movement is almost seemless but still very contrasting - the broken chords of the left hand continue at more or less the same tempo, but the time signature changes from 3/4 Andante to 3/8 Vivace, and the new material in the right hand is very rhythmical and playful. This movement also has some brilliant, swirling passagework requiring strong, agile fingers, and a loud Coda.

Background

Muzio Clementi wrote over a hundred Sonatas and Sonatinas, of which the opus 36 set, first published in 1797, was by far the most successful - Op. 36 No. 1 especially is known worldwide to virtually every pianist who has advanced to an intermediate level.

Around 1815 Clementi issued a Fifth Edition in which several details (notes, dynamics, tempos, articulations etc) were altered. Many passages were transposed up one octave to exploit the greater range of the evolving piano. However, most current editions are still based on the musical text of the first edition.

Practice & Performance Tips:

I. Allegro
This movement has three sections: an exposition, a development and a recapitulation. It is very important to know where these sections start and end, before you start practicing them.

EXPOSITION
The exposition starts in measure 1 and ends in measure 15. Write the word "EXPOSITION" on the top of m. 1. This exposition, as in many sonatas, has two themes.

The first theme is in the tonic. If you group the notes together in the first measure, they form a C-Major chord. Notice that the notes in this first theme form descending lines.
Circle all the C-Major arpeggios then play them as a chord (blocked) using the correct fingering. Notice that the notes in m. 6 form a C-Major chord but it is inverted!

Circle the rests marked on the bass clef. They are as important as the notes in between them and help one give more rhythmic vitality to their playing. Play the left hand lightly. This bass line should support the melody without overshadowing it.

The second theme is in the dominant (G Major). Make sure that you play the G Major scale in m. 8 and m. 10 with the correct fingering. Notice that the notes in this second theme form ascending lines. When playing these lines, be... Sign up for a Gold membership to read the practice tips.


Forum posts about this piece:

Tips on playing gracefully with no tension. Lack of technique? by alexf26
Hello! I have a question about my technique / playing and a decision to make. I'm self-taught (7 months since I started from scratch). I happy to have achieved the full Clementi sonatina op.36 n.1 at...

Intro and how to choose an etudes appropriate for your level by joe falchetto
TL;DR as a guideline in selecting studies of the right level, how long should it take you to learn a run of the mill (Czerny, Bertini, Cramer, Duvernoy, Heller, etc) study of an appropriate level if you are at...

I'm finishing Bastien Intermediate Course Level 3. What should I do next? by harpsichord_fan_73
The title says it all. I'm new to the forum, a serious amateur, and would like to study music a few of years from now. So now that I'm finishing this Method, what's next? What's funny is...

Am I at the right level? How do I evaluate my position as a musician correctly? by pianoamatuer
Okay--  so I have already realized at this point I've already done another question on correct posture [want more help on that, but I really can't complain] Actually, I would like to have that...

Need help with a piece by pianoamatuer
I'm doing my first kinda event thing for piano. It's a junior festival. Boy, my blood's rushing already. Anyway, I'm going to be performing a required piece and a solo of my own choice....

Clementi - Sonatina opus 36 no 1 by mackenzie
I'm on Grade 4 in piano and I'm planning on playing this piece as one of my choice pieces at the end of the year and I'm just wondering that seeing as it has 3 movements if you would actually...

clementi sonatina in c by db05
I've been studying the first movement for 2 months now. I can play separate hands with no problem at speed, but with both hands i simply can't do it even at half speed. It is such an easy piece. Am...

Clementi Sonatina - Op. 36 No. 1 by cfortunato
I'm confused.  I'm looking at the Clementi Sonatina #1 in two different sheets, and there are major and significant differences.  For instance, in the sheet available on this site, in the...

Downloadable piano sheet music from Sonatinas by Muzio Clementi to print: Sonatina Op. 36 No. 1 in C Major
Sonatina Op. 36 No. 1 in C Major, a composition by the classical composer Muzio Clementi. It was composed during the Classical period and is part of Sonatinas by Clementi.