Opus Clavicembalisticum

work by Sorabji

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July 1, 2026

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Opus Clavicembalisticum is a monumental composition by the eccentric English composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji. Completed in 1930, this work is notable for its extraordinary length, spanning nearly five hours and considered the longest nonrepetitive piano composition ever published.1

The title itself, Opus Clavicembalisticum, references the clavichord, an early keyboard instrument, though Sorabji's work is written for piano. Sorabji was known for his complex musical style, which blended free rhythms with Asiatic melodic elements and European polyphonic structures. He also wrote other extensive works, such as the nearly 1,000-page "Jami" Symphony. For a significant period, Sorabji prohibited the performance or publication of his music, making it accessible only through his private recordings.21

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Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji
Sorabji’s most famous composition is Opus Clavicembalisticum (1930). It consists of one movement lasting nearly 5 hours and is the longest nonrepetitive piano composition ever published. He wrote several symphonies, including the “Jami” Symphony (1942–51), which was nearly 1,000 pages long. From 1940 to 1976 Sorabji prohibited the performance or…
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Sorabji’s most famous composition is Opus Clavicembalisticum (1930). It consists of one movement lasting nearly 5 hours and is the longest nonrepetitive piano composition ever published. He wrote several symphonies, including the “Jami” Symphony (1942–51), which was nearly 1,000 pages long. From 1940 to 1976 Sorabji prohibited the performance or…
Read More