Hello: My name is Muzio Clementi. I was born in Rome, Italy, on January 24th in 1752. I was the eldest of seven children of my Roman father, Nicolò, who was a proficient silversmith and my Swiss mother, Magdalena Kaiser. i was born Rome, Italy.

When I was very young, my father became aware of my musical talent. I was taught the rudiments of music by a local church choirmaster named Buroni. When I was 7, I began to take organ lessons with Cordicelli. Then 2 years later, I gained a position as a church organist.

In 1766, a wealthy Englishmen, Sir Peter Beckford, was on a trip to Rome. He was so impressed with me that he decided to adopt me and bring me to his home in dorset, where I was to perform frequently.

In England I received an exceptional education in music and academics. I made my first performance on the piano when I was 18 years old. My performance turned out to be a great success and that was the beginning of my thriving career.

I began European tours in 1781. I went to France, Deutschland, and even Österreich, and Germany. When I was in Vienna, the Emperor, Joseph II, asked me to enter in a musical duel with Mozart. I performed one of my compositions, which was the piano sonata in B-Flat major. Mozart played a dazzling series of variations. Guess who won?

One year later and for the next twenty years or so, I stayed in England teaching, playing piano, and conducting symphonies.

I also started manufacturing pianos but, sadly, a fire destroyed my piano factory in 1807. I died in 1832 when I was 80 years old. I was buried at Westminster Abbey!!!


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