Francesco D'Auria
Encyclopedia
Francesco Mariano D'Auria (1841- after 1913) was an Italian conductor
, composer
, and music educator. He began his career in his native country but after 1881 he was active in North America. Some of his more well known compositions include the cantata
s The Sea King's Bride (1890), Crusader's Ransom (1891), and Gulnare (1892); the latter of which is considered his best and most innovative work. A number of his songs were published by Abraham Nordheimer between 1888–1893 and Whaley Royce published one of his anthem
s.
's concert tour. He liked the country so much that he immigrated to the United States soon after, working as a conductor in New York City and Cincinnati in the mid 1880s.
In 1887 D'Auria moved to Canada to join the voice faculty of the Toronto Conservatory of Music where he taught for 8 years. Among his notable pupils there were W. H. Hewlett
, Edith Miller, and J. D. A. Tripp. In 1890 he formed and conducted the short lived Toronto Symphony Orchestra (no relation to the current orchestra of that name) which gave several concerts during the early 1890s but disbanded due to financial reasons. In 1895 he joined the faculty of the Winnipeg Conservatory where he remained for two years.
D'Auria returned to the United States in 1897, living and working as a music teacher and conductor in Minneapolis for several years. He returned to Canada in 1904, settling in Vancouver where he was active a teacher and choir conductor up through 1913. After this his whereabouts and activities are unknown.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and music educator. He began his career in his native country but after 1881 he was active in North America. Some of his more well known compositions include the cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s The Sea King's Bride (1890), Crusader's Ransom (1891), and Gulnare (1892); the latter of which is considered his best and most innovative work. A number of his songs were published by Abraham Nordheimer between 1888–1893 and Whaley Royce published one of his anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
s.
Life and career
Born in Naples, D'uria began his career as a conductor in his native country in the 1860s. He toured to the United States in 1881-1882 as the conductor for Adelina PattiAdelina Patti
Adelina Patti was a highly acclaimed 19th-century opera singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851 and gave her last performance before an audience in 1914...
's concert tour. He liked the country so much that he immigrated to the United States soon after, working as a conductor in New York City and Cincinnati in the mid 1880s.
In 1887 D'Auria moved to Canada to join the voice faculty of the Toronto Conservatory of Music where he taught for 8 years. Among his notable pupils there were W. H. Hewlett
W. H. Hewlett
William Henry Hewlett was a Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator of English birth.-Early life and education:...
, Edith Miller, and J. D. A. Tripp. In 1890 he formed and conducted the short lived Toronto Symphony Orchestra (no relation to the current orchestra of that name) which gave several concerts during the early 1890s but disbanded due to financial reasons. In 1895 he joined the faculty of the Winnipeg Conservatory where he remained for two years.
D'Auria returned to the United States in 1897, living and working as a music teacher and conductor in Minneapolis for several years. He returned to Canada in 1904, settling in Vancouver where he was active a teacher and choir conductor up through 1913. After this his whereabouts and activities are unknown.