Clementi House was the London home of Muzio Clementi (1752-1832), composer, pianist, and ?Father of the Pianoforte?.
One of the forte-pianos manufactured by Clementi?s company at that period is the front hall of Clementi House and tuned to a playable (if not performable) condition, with its original strings.
Through Clementi?s presence, the house became the musical ?home? in London of the young Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47). It was then the home of composer William Horsley (1774-1858) and his musical family, with whom Mendelssohn performed home-made operas in the drawing-room.
Mendelssohn was present at the betrothal in the house of Horsley?s daughter Mary to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, for which couple the composer dashed off a song. Its unpublished manuscript remains in the house till this day.
Clementi House was visited by many other outstanding musicians of the period, including Chopin, Bellini, Joachim, and Ignaz Moscheles.