Clementi’s Introduction in European musical life, 1801–1830

Abstract

Clementi's Introduction to the Art of Playing on the Piano Forte must have been one of the biggest music publishing projects of the early nineteenth century. From 1801 to 1830 twelve editions were published by Clementi & Co., including one in Spanish. This chapter charts in detail the progress of the English edition and its relationship to Pleyel's Paris edition. The peculiarities of the Spanish edition - intended for a niche London market - are explored and the performance practice and pedagogical issues are examined.