Composer

:

Kaikhosru Sorabji

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Fantasy

Compose Date

:

1929 - 1930

Average_duration

:

262:58

Opus Clavicembalisticum is a monumental work for solo piano composed by Kaikhosru Sorabji between 1916 and 1923. The work is considered one of the most challenging and complex pieces ever written for the piano, with a duration of over four hours and consisting of 12 movements. The premiere of Opus Clavicembalisticum took place on April 13, 1930, at the Queen's Hall in London, performed by the pianist Egon Petri. The work was received with mixed reviews, with some critics praising its technical brilliance and others criticizing its excessive length and complexity. The 12 movements of Opus Clavicembalisticum are titled as follows: Preludio-corale, Fuga I, Interludium I, Fuga II, Interludium II, Fuga III, Interludium III, Fuga IV, Interludium IV, Fuga V, Interludium V, and Epilogo. Each movement is characterized by its intricate polyphonic textures, complex harmonies, and virtuosic pianistic writing. The work is heavily influenced by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, with Sorabji incorporating elements of Baroque counterpoint and fugue writing into his own unique style. The use of chromaticism and dissonance is also a prominent feature of the work, with Sorabji pushing the boundaries of tonality and harmonic language. Opus Clavicembalisticum is a testament to Sorabji's technical prowess as a pianist and composer, as well as his uncompromising artistic vision. Despite its challenges, the work has been performed by a number of pianists over the years, cementing its place as a landmark in the history of piano music.

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