Introduction
Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) was an influential Italian pianist, composer, teacher, editor, and music publisher. His musical output had an important influence on many future generations of musicians and composers, including Beethoven and Chopin.
The sonatinas presented here are a great choice for students who are at a low-intermediate to intermediate level at the piano and are looking to begin playing pieces from the classical repertoire. They also serve as a perfect introduction to the sonata, as the word sonatina literally means “little sonata”.
The three sonatinas presented here are all taken from Opus 26 of Clementi works, which contains six sonatinas in total. I have chosen these three as I find them to be the most beautiful and most liked amongst my own students. I have also arranged them in order of difficult from easier to harder. Enjoy!
#1. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 1
- Composed: 1797
- Pages: 3
- Key: C Major
- Movements: 3 (Spiritoso, Andante, Vivace)
- Ability Level: Low-Intermediate – Intermediate
- My personal rating: 9/10 (love it!)
WHAT’S EASY ABOUT IT:
The key of C major means we are dealing mostly with white keys, aside from occasional black-key accidentals. The middle movement in its tempo of Andante should be especially comfortable for beginners.
WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND DIFFICULT ABOUT IT:
The two faster movements, especially the third one – Vivace. The sixteenth notes especially will require quick and balanced fingering at this tempo.
#2. Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36, No. 2
- Composed: 1797
- Pages: 4
- Key: G Major
- Movements: 3 (Allegretto, Allegretto, Allegro)
- Ability Level: Intermediate
- My personal rating: 8.5/10 (very nice!)
WHAT’S EASY ABOUT IT:
The second movement, although in Allegretto like the first, feels much slower because of very few sixteenth notes. It is also in C Major, which means very few black keys.
WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND DIFFICULT ABOUT IT:
The third movement in Allegro will require quick fingering, especially for the sixteenth notes.
#3. Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 3
- Composed: 1797
- Pages: 4
- Key: C Major
- Movements: 3 (Spiritoso, Un poco adagio, Allegro)
- Ability Level: Intermediate
- My personal rating: 8/10 (very nice!)
WHAT’S EASY ABOUT IT:
As usual, the second movement, in Un poco adagio, should me very comfortable to play even with the F# in the key signature. It is made up of mostly quarter and eighth notes.
WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND DIFFICULT ABOUT IT:
The first movement is likely the most difficult one here, not only due to its tempo of Spiritoso but also its many two-note chords and sixteenth-note runs. A degree of technical mastery will be required here.
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