KSS50 Opus Clavicembalisticum

Piece details

  • Written for: Piano
  • Date composed: 1929–30
  • Dedicatee: Hugh M’Diarmid
  • Approximate duration (minutes): 285
  • Manuscript pages: 260
  • Manuscript location: J.W.Jagger Library, University of Cape Town
  • Comments: Published (J.Curwen and Sons Ltd., 909021, 1931). Sorabji wrote an analysis of this work; it was published in the book accompanying John Ogdon’s recording. See also this list of complete performances.
    I PARS PRIMA
    i. Introito
    ii. Preludio-Corale
    iii. Fuga I
    iv. Fantasia
    v. Fuga II
    II PARS ALTERA
    vi. Interludium primum
    vii. Cadenza I
    viii. Fuga III
    III PARS TERTIA
    ix. Interludium: Toccata-Adagio-Passacaglia
    x. Cadenza II
    xi. Fuga IV
    xii. Coda-Stretta

Editions available from the Sorabji Archive

  • (Annotated) copy of publication, A3L. 260 pages.
    Price: £65 (paper), £20 (pdf)
    Right-click to download high resolution sample page: PDF PNG
  • Manuscript, A3L. 260 pages.
    Price: £65 (paper), £20 (pdf)
    Right-click to download high resolution sample page: PDF PNG

Recordings

  • Michael Habermann (piano),
    Musical Heritage Society/MusicMasters MHS4271L (LP), MHC6271M (Cassette), MM20015 (LP), MM60015 (CD) (November 1980)
    Track 1 Introito and Preludio-Corale (13:15)
  • Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano),
    Royal Conservatory Series (Keytone Records) RCS4-800 (4LPs) (September 1983)
    Track 1-12 (230:16)
    Track 1 I Introito (2:55)
    Track 2 II Preludio-Corale (13:51)
    Track 3 III Fuga I quator vocibus (10:51)
    Track 4 IV Fantasia (5:35)
    Track 5 V Fuga II duplex (15:06)
    Track 6 VI Interludium primum (Thema cum XLIX variationibus) (47:46)
    Track 7 VII Cadenza I (4:25)
    Track 8 VIII Fuga tertia triplex (32:23)
    Track 9 IX Interludium alterum (53:36)
    Track 10 X Cadenza II (2:49)
    Track 11 XI Fuga IV quadruplex (33:30)
    Track 12 XII Coda-Stretta (7:29)
  • John Ogdon (piano),
    Altarus Records AIR-CD9075 (May 1989)
    Track 1-11 (286:50)
    Track 1 I Introito (2:49)
    Track 2 II Preludio-Corale (13:20)
    Track 3 III Fuga I quator vocibus (12:36)
    Track 4 IV Fantasia (4:19)
    Track 5 V Fuga II duplex (18:06)
    Track 6 VI Interludium primum (Thema cum XLIX variationibus) (58:09)
    Track 7 VII Cadenza I (4:22)
    Track 8 VIII Fuga tertia triplex (45:16)
    Track 9 IX Interludium alterum (72:58)
    Track 10 X Cadenza II (3:04)
    Track 11 XI Fuga IV quadruplex – XII Coda-Stretta (51:51)
  • Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano),
    BIS Records BIS-CD-1062/1064 (5CDs) (1999)
    Track 1-12 (234:23)
    Track 1 I Introito (3:03)
    Track 2 II Preludio-Corale (13:33)
    Track 3 III Fuga I quator vocibus (12:06)
    Track 4 IV Fantasia (5:35)
    Track 5 V Fuga II duplex (15:30)
    Track 6 VI Interludium primum (Thema cum XLIX variationibus) (44:44)
    Track 7 VII Cadenza I (4:40)
    Track 8 VIII Fuga tertia triplex (33:18)
    Track 9 IX Interludium alterum (57:17)
    Track 10 X Cadenza II (3:04)
    Track 11 XI Fuga IV quadruplex (33:18)
    Track 12 XII Coda-Stretta (7:30)
  • Michael Habermann (piano),
    British Music Society BMS427-429 (3CDs) (2004)
    Track 12 Introito and Preludio-Corale (13:15)
  • Michael Habermann (piano),
    Naxos 8.571363-65 (2015)
    Track 12 Introito and Preludio-Corale (13:15)
  • Daan Vandewalle (piano),
    Passacaille PAS9703 (January 2024)
    Track 1-19 (300:11)
    Track 1 I Introito (2:51)
    Track 2 II Preludio-Corale (14:42)
    Track 3 III Fuga I quator vocibus (15:45)
    Track 4 IV Fantasia (6:35)
    Track 5 V Fuga II duplex (24:32)
    Track 6 VI Interludium Primum (59:41)
    Track 7 VII Cadenza I (6:09)
    Track 8 VIII Fuga Tertia Triplex: Dux Primus (13:10)
    Track 9 VIII Fuga Tertia Triplex: Dux Alter (15:32)
    Track 10 VIII Fuga Tertia Triplex: Dux Tertius (18:26)
    Track 11 IX Interludium Alterum: Toccata (7:35)
    Track 12 IX Interludium Alterum: Adagio (12:08)
    Track 13 IX Interludium Alterum: Passacaglia cum LXXXI variationibus (44:01)
    Track 14 X Cadenza II (3:56)
    Track 15 XI Fuga IV quadruplex: Dux primus (12:57)
    Track 16 XI Fuga IV quadruplex: Dux alter (10:06)
    Track 17 XI Fuga IV quadruplex: Dux tertius (10:28)
    Track 18 XI Fuga IV quadruplex: Dux quartus (10:31)
    Track 19 XII Coda-Stretta (11:06)

Performances

  • 01/12/1930 Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (piano)
    Stevenson Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
    Active Society for the Propagation of Contemporary Music
  • 10/03/1936 John Tobin (piano) [i-v]
    Cowdray Hall Contemporary Music Centre, London, UK
  • 01/12/1959 John Ogdon (piano)
    Townfoot House (home of Ronald Stevenson), West Linton, Scotland
    Private reading
  • 15/04/1978 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    Great Hall, Post College, Greenvale NY, USA
  • 13/05/1978 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York NY, USA
  • 19/09/1978 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    Great Hall, Post College, Greenvale NY, USA
  • 27/09/1978 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    Music Building, Nassau Community College, Garden City NY, USA
  • 06/10/1978 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    Midland Center for the Arts, Midland MI, USA
    American Liszt Society Festival
  • 09/08/1979 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    University of Maryland, College Park MD, USA
    International Piano Festival: Lecture-recital
  • 01/02/1980 Paul Rapoport (computer realisation) [extract]
    Walter Hall, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
    New Music Concerts: Illustrated Lecture by Paul Rapoport
  • 01/06/1980 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands
    Holland Festival
  • 05/06/1980 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Centrum Bellevue, Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Holland Festival
  • 09/06/1980 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Cultureel Centrum de Hagen, Almelo, Netherlands
    Holland Festival
  • 11/06/1980 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Schönbergzaal, Koninklijk Conservatorium, Den Haag, Netherlands
    Holland Festival
  • 11/06/1982 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands
    Holland Festival
  • 28/06/1982 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [x-xii]
    Priory Church of St Bartholomew, London, UK
  • 24/04/1983 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
    Contemporary Concerts
  • 10/05/1983 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Beethovenhalle, Bonn, Germany
    XXXI Internationales Beethovenfest
  • 02/11/1983 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [x-xii]
    Chamber Hall, Århus, Denmark
    International Society for Contemporary Music (World Music Days)
  • 09/11/1984 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Redpath Hall, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
    Les Événements du Neuf
  • 14/11/1984 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    McLaughlin Hall, Faculty of Music, York University, Toronto, Canada
  • 14/11/1984 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Music Gallery, Toronto, Canada
  • 02/08/1986 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii, iv]
    Youth Hall, Viitasaari, Finland
    4th International Summer Academy and Festival: “Time of Music”
  • 12/02/1988 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Universitets Aula, Oslo, Norway
    Norsk Tangentfestival
  • 14/07/1988 John Ogdon (piano)
    Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, UK
  • 09/10/1988 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Opéra Comique, Paris, France
    Festival d’Automne
  • 02/11/1988 John Ogdon (piano)
    Skinners’ Hall, Dowgate Street, London, UK
    Cornhill Festival of British Music
  • 01/03/1990 Julian Saphir (piano) [i]
    Lecture room, Royal College of Music, London, UK
    Lecture-recital
  • 21/05/1990 Julian Saphir (piano) [i, ii]
    Recital Hall, Royal College of Music, London, UK
  • 21/01/1993 Julian Saphir (piano) [i, ii]
    British Music Information Centre, London, UK
  • 28/04/1995 Simon Abrahams (piano) [ix(Adagio)]
    Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
    Lunchtime Recital
  • 12/11/1998 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    India International Centre, New Delhi, India
  • 20/11/1998 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai, Inda
  • 22/11/1998 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Gulati Hall, Poona, India
  • 28/11/1998 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    Guru Nanak Bhavan, Bangalore, India
  • 19/12/2000 Eric Huebner (piano), Su-Yen Jeon (piano), Lora Tchekoratova (piano) [vi(extract),vii, ix(extract)]
    Paul Recital Hall, Juilliard School of Music, New York NY, USA
    “B-A-C-H”
  • 12/03/2002 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Konzertsaal, Universität der Künste, Berlin, Germany
    “Klavier Solitär”: Berliner Festspiele “MaerzMusik” series
  • 10/09/2003 Jean-Jacques Schmid (piano) [i]
    Konzertsaal, Hochschule der Künste Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    Bern Biennale
  • 16/09/2003 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Purcell Room, London, UK
  • 23/11/2003 Kazue Nakamura (piano) [i, ii, iv]
    Theatre Rameau Rokkou, Hyogo, Japan
  • 07/03/2004 Daan Vandewalle (piano)
    Kamermuziekzaal, Concertgebouw, Brugge, Belgium
  • 20/06/2004 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Merkin Hall, New York NY, USA
  • 12/03/2005 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Almi Hall, Opera House, Helsinki, Finland
    “Musica Nova” Festival
  • 17/03/2005 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Sheremetev Palace, 34 Fontanka River Embankment, St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 02/03/2006 Vasilios Tsokis (piano) [i, ii]
    St-Vallerin, Burgundy, France
    Rencontres Culturelles Le Pinacle
  • 12/04/2006 Daan Vandewalle (piano) [i, ii]
    Musée d’Art Contemporaine, Strasbourg, France
  • 27/09/2008 Elsa Silva (piano) [extract]
    Palco do Grande Auditório, Lisbon, Portugal
    Festival Expresso Oriente 2008
  • 20/02/2009 Daan Vandewalle (piano) [i, ii, iii]
    Theatre du chatelet, Paris, France
  • 27/02/2009 Daan Vandewalle (piano)
    Auditorio nacional, Madrid, Spain
  • 28/05/2010 Daan Vandewalle (piano) [x-xii]
    De Bijloke Muziekcentrum, Ghent, Belgium
  • 12/06/2011 HyunSoo Kim (piano) [extract]
    Central Recital Hall, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Rocky Ridge, CO, USA
    Young Artist Recital Series, Rocky Ridge Music Festival
  • 19/10/2012 Lukas Huisman (piano) [vii(extract), ix(Adagio), xii(extract)]
    University of Coventry, Coventry, UK
    Lecture-recital Intime 2012 Symposium
  • 27/11/2012 Lukas Huisman (piano) [i, ii, ix(Adagio), vii, xii]
    Logos Foundation, Tetrahedron Concert Hall, Gent, Belgium
    Lecture-recital
  • 16/12/2012 Lukas Huisman (piano) [i, ii, ix(Adagio), vii, xii]
    De Toonzaal, s'Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
    Lecture-recital
  • 08/02/2013 Lukas Huisman (piano) [vii(extract), ix(Adagio), xii(extract)]
    Royal College of Music, London, UK
    Lecture-recital, LIPS 2013 Symposium
  • 28/03/2013 Lukas Huisman (piano) [vii(extrat), ix(Adagio), xii(extract)]
    Aula, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
    Week of Contemporary Music: lecture-recital
  • 14/09/2014 Esther Archer Lakhani (piano) [extract]
    Littlefield Concert Hall, Oakland, CA, USA
    “India in the English musical imagination, 1897-1947”: concert to launch the book Resonances of the Raj (OUP) by Prof. Nalini Ghuman
  • 31/07/2016 Daan Vandewalle (piano)
    Heimathafen Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
    Festival “Schwelbrand Overkill”
  • 07/09/2016 Lukas Huisman (piano) [extract]
    Miry Hall, Conservatoire, Ghent, Belgium
    Lecture-recital
  • 19/02/2017 Hiroaki Ooi (piano) [i-ix]
    Shōtō Salon, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
  • 05/05/2017 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    St Michael’s Church, Brighton, UK
  • 09/05/2017 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London, UK
  • 13/05/2017 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, Oxford, UK
  • 25/08/2017 Hiroaki Ooi (piano)
    Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
  • 01/10/2017 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Musentempel, Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 06/10/2017 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    Glasgow University, Glasgow, UK
  • 13/11/2017 Jonathan Powell (piano)
    JAMU (Janacek Academy) concert hall, Brno, Czech Republic
  • 14/11/2019 Daan Vandewalle (piano)
    Villa Elisabeth, Invalidenstrasse, Berlin, Germany
  • 06/11/2022 Tellef Johnson (piano) [ix(extract)]
    Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall, Mills College, Oakland CA, USA
    Starting at 3pm
  • 29/03/2023 Tellef Johnson (piano) [Quasi Tambura]
    Annett Recital Hall, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse WI, USA
  • 29/08/2023 Tellef Johnson (piano) [ix extract]
    Founders’ Hall, South Dakota State University, Brookings SD, USA
  • 30/08/2023 Tellef Johnson (piano) [ix extract]
    Hamre Hall, Augustana University, Sioux Falls SD, USA

Broadcasts etc.

  • ??/??/1975 Paul Rapoport (computer realisation) [extract]
    School of Music Building, University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA [recording]
    Lecture on Sorabji by Paul Rapoport
  • 20/10/1975 Paul Rapoport (computer realisation) [extract]
    Fine Arts Building University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada [recording]
    Lecture on Sorabji by Paul Rapoport
  • 11/06/1977 Yonty Solomon (piano) [i[x]]
    LWT (London Weekend Television), London, UK [broadcast]
    “Aquarius” programme
  • 08/05/1978 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    WQXR (radio), New York NY, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “The Listening Room” programme
  • 11/06/1980 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    NOS (Nederlandse Omroeprogramma Stichting), Den Haag, Netherlands [broadcast]
    live relay
  • 24/07/1980 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii]
    ABC Television, Sydney, Australia [broadcast]
  • 12/10/1980 Paul Rapoport (computer realisation) [extract]
    Home of William Marsh, Newtown PA, USA [recording]
    Delius Society (Philadelphia branch) meeting: Lecture by Paul Rapoport
  • ??/03/1981 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    US National Public Radio (many stations), , USA [broadcast]
    “Grand Piano” programme
  • 11/06/1982 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    NOS (Nederlandse Omroeprogramma Stichting), Utrecht, Netherlands [broadcast]
    live relay
  • 25/08/1982 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    WUHY (later WHYY) (radio), Philadelphia PA, USA [broadcast of recording]
    90th birthday tribute
  • 17/03/1983 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    McGill University, Montréal, Canada [recording]
    Illustrated Lecture by Marc-André Roberge
  • 15/08/1983 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    WFUY (radio), New York NY, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Concert Grande” programme
  • 22/08/1983 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [ix(Passacaglia)]
    WFUY (radio), New York NY, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Concert Grande” programme
  • 29/08/1983 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [x, xi, xii]
    WFUY (radio), New York NY, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Concert Grande” programme
  • 07/04/1984 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    WFMT (radio), Chicago IL, USA [broadcast]
  • 06/01/1985 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano)
    Radio-Canada, Montréal, Canada [broadcast]
    “Musique de notre siècle” programme
  • 02/08/1986 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i, ii, iv]
    (see above), Viitasaari, Finland [broadcast]
    Finnish Television
  • 15/07/1988 John Ogdon (piano) [i(extract)]
    BBC World Service, London, UK [broadcast]
    “Outlook” programme
  • 16/07/1988 John Ogdon (piano) [i(extract)]
    BBC World Service, London, UK [repeat broadcast]
    “Outlook” programme
  • 22/07/1988 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [extract]
    BBC World Service, London, UK [broadcast of recording]
    Special Overseas Service
  • 26/07/1988 John Ogdon (piano) [i,ii[x]]
    Cleveland Lodge (home of Lady Susi Jeans), Dorking, UK [recording]
    Organists’ Summer School: Illustrated Lecture
  • 18/01/1989 John Ogdon (piano) [xi(extract)]
    BBC Radio 4, London, UK [broadcast of recording]
    “Kaleidoscope” programme
  • 24/02/1989 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [ix(Adagio)]
    NOS (Nederlandse Omroeprogramma Stichting), Hilversum, Netherlands [broadcast]
  • 19/03/1989 John Ogdon (piano) [vi, xii(extract)]
    LWT (London Weekend Television), London, UK [broadcast]
    “South Bank Show” programme
  • 19/09/1989 John Ogdon (piano) [vi, xii(extract)]
    Channel 4 Television, London, UK [repeat broadcast]
    repeat from LWT (London Weekend Television)
  • 24/09/1989 John Ogdon (piano) [vii]
    BBC Radio 3, London, UK [broadcast of recording]
  • 27/12/1989 John Ogdon (piano) [vii]
    BBC Radio 3, London, UK [repeat broadcast of recording]
  • 01/03/1990 John Ogdon (piano) [vi, ix, xii(extract)]
    Lecture room, Royal College of Music, London, UK [recording]
    Lecture-recital
  • 13/06/1990 Michael Habermann (piano) [i, ii]
    KPBX Radio, Spokane WA, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Chamber Music” programme
  • 14/08/1990 John Ogdon (piano) [iii, iv, v]
    WFUV Radio, New York NY, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Concert Grande” programme
  • 09/08/1992 John Ogdon (piano) [i, ix, xi(extract), xii]
    Radio Bremen, Bremen, Germany [broadcast of recording]
    Hauptabteilung E-Musik, Redaktion Neue Musik
  • 10/08/1992 John Ogdon (piano) [i, ii]
    Channel 2, Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, Stockholm, Sweden [broadcast of recording]
  • 17/08/1992 John Ogdon (piano) [x-xii]
    Channel 2, Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, Stockholm, Sweden [broadcast of recording]
  • 29/10/1992 John Ogdon (piano) [vi(extract), ix(extract)]
    École de Musique, Salle Henri-Gagnon Université Laval, Québec, Canada [recording]
    Sorabji centenary lecture (Marc-André Roberge)
  • 04/09/2001 John Ogdon (piano) [extract]
    WDR (Radio), Köln, Germany [broadcast of recording]
    Atlas der Moderne 166: presentation by Jens Hagestedt
  • 04/09/2001 John Ogdon (piano), Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [extract]
    WDR (Radio), Köln, Germany [broadcast of recording]
    Atlas der Moderne 166: presentation by Jens Hagestedt
  • 12/11/2002 John Ogdon (piano) [extract]
    WDR (Radio), Köln, Germany [broadcast of recording]
    Atlas der Moderne 166: presentation by Jens Hagestedt
  • 12/11/2002 John Ogdon (piano), Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [extract]
    WDR (Radio), Köln, Germany [broadcast of recording]
    Atlas der Moderne 166: presentation by Jens Hagestedt
  • 23/06/2004 John Ogdon (piano) [i, v]
    WPRB, Princeton NJ, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Classical Discoveries” programme
  • 11/07/2005 John Ogdon (piano)
    WPRB, Princeton NJ, USA [broadcast of recording]
    “Classical Discoveries” programme
  • 07/10/2007 John Ogdon (piano) [extract]
    BBC Radio 3, London, UK [broadcast of recording]
    Iain Burnside’s playlist
  • 19/01/2011 John Ogdon (piano)
    CJUM, Winnipeg, Canada [broadcast of recording]
  • 13/11/2011 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [vi-ix]
    Filodiffusione (“Canale 5”), , Italy [broadcast of recording]
  • 15/10/2017 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [i extract]
    BBC Radio 4, London, UK [broadcast of recording]
    “Something understood: Simplicity”, presented by Mark Tully
  • 02/03/2018 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [iv/v]
    De Concertzender, Utrecht, Netherlands [broadcast of recording]
  • 30/05/2019 John Ogdon (piano) [1/6x/9x/12x]
    ORF Austrian Radio, Vienna, Austria [broadcast of recording]
    Faszinosum Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji: Opus - das Musikkolloquium
  • 25/02/2023 Geoffrey Douglas Madge (piano) [extracts from i, v, vii, xi, xii]
    Radio-France: https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/podcasts/musicopolis/kaikhosru-sorabji-un-compositeur-bien-secret-6078820, Paris, France [broadcast of recording]
    Musicopolis