Sonatina in C major, Op. 36 No. 1
Muzio Clementi's Sonatina in C major, Op. 36 No. 1 (1797), is the classic first sonatina: three short movements, each graded 4 of 8 (Beginner) in Octotune, teaching broken chords, scales, a singing slow movement and a quick finale.
At a glance
| Composer | Muzio Clementi (1752–1832) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner: grade 4 of 8 |
| Key | C major (no sharps or flats) |
| Time | 2/2 |
| Tempo | 156 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 38 bars, about 58 seconds |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | G3 to D6 |
| Left hand | C2 to F4 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Sonatina in C, Op. 36 No. 1: I. Allegro | 4 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
Muzio Clementi's six Sonatinas, Op. 36, first published in 1797, have been teaching pieces for over two centuries, and No. 1 in C major is where most pianists begin. It is a real sonata in miniature, in three short movements, and Octotune has all three.
I. Allegro. Opens with a C major chord broken upwards (C, E C, G, G) and answers it with running scales. It teaches broken-chord shapes, short scales and a steady left hand. Watch the jumps: the right hand leaps back down after its runs.
II. Andante, in F major (one flat, B flat). A gentle, singing tune in the right hand, sometimes in two voices, over flowing triplets: three notes to each beat. The challenge is to keep the triplets soft and even, and the tune on top.
III. Vivace, in 3/8 and back in C major. Quick and bright, with sixteenth-note runs in the right hand over a lively left hand. Crisp fingers, and a steady one-in-a-bar feel.
Practice plan
- Learn the first movement first, hands separately, then together, with the A–B loop on the scale runs.
- For the Andante, practise the triplets alone until they are even, then add the tune.
- For the Vivace, start at 50–60% speed; build up only as the runs stay even.
- Play all three in order once each is secure. Together they last about three minutes.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 10, which teaches F major for the Andante. The first movement's right hand climbs to D, just above high C.
Questions
Is Clementi's Sonatina Op. 36 No. 1 easy?
It is the classic first sonatina: all three movements are graded 4 of 8 (Beginner) in Octotune. It suits a player who reads both clefs well and has met simple scales.
How many movements does Clementi's Op. 36 No. 1 have?
Three: I. Allegro in C major, II. Andante in F major, and III. Vivace in C major.
Credits and licence
- Music: Muzio Clementi (1752–1832)
- Typeset by Brian D. Rude for the Mutopia Project
- Licence: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece