Noctave
Born in 1786 in northern Germany, Kuhlau settled in Copenhagen in 1810 and spent the rest of his career there. He wrote operas and the incidental music to Elverhøj (1828), which became a familiar work in Denmark. Flautists know his many pieces for flute, pianists his sonatinas, especially those of Op. 20 and Op. 55, still played by many students.
The Allegro of the Sonatina Op. 20 No. 1 is the only Kuhlau piece in the catalogue, and lasts almost four minutes. It follows naturally from Clementi's Sonatina Op. 36 No. 1: the same form and the same clarity, but a faster right hand, peaking at eight notes per second in the scales. The left hand also plays octaves and more mobile accompaniments. Practise the scales hands separately, checking the fingering wherever the direction changes.