MUZIO CLEMENTI (1752-1832): 18 Musical Characteristics, Op. 19, “The Black Joke” with 21 Variations, WoO 2, Sonata in D, Op. 25/6, Variations on “Batti, batti” from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”, WoO 10, 5 Variations on a Minuet by Mr Collick, WoO 5, Canon for Cherubini, WoO 29.

Description: This album explores a variety of pieces, a number of which focus on variations. ‘The Black Joke’ was a popular English tune garnished by Clementi with 21 successive variations. Musical Characteristics captures the styles of leading figures of the time, including Mozart, Haydn and Koželuch, while the Variations on ‘Batti, batti’ is a virtuoso transcription. Recorded on an original fortepiano made in Clementi’s own workshop around 1806. Nicholas Rimmer (fortepiano).