Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello (c. 1690, Bologna
– 4 October 1758, Stuttgart
) was an Italian Baroque
composer
and violin
ist.
His name is mentioned the first time in a document from 1715 in which the Elector of Bavaria appointed him violinist in his court orchestra in Munich
. Soon after, in 1716, after the death of Johann Christoph Pez
, he got the job of music director and as a maître des concerts de la chambre at the Württemberg court in Stuttgart
. In 1717, he was appointed Hofkapellmeister
. Around 1718, he composed the pastorale opera La Tisbe, which he dedicated to the Archduke Eberhard Ludwig
. Brescianello did this in vain hope that his opera would be listed at the Stuttgart theatre. In the years from 1719 to 1721, a fierce conflict emerged, in which Reinhard Keiser
repeatedly attempted to get Brescianello's post. In 1731, Brescianello became Oberkapellmeister. In 1737, the court had financial problems which led to dissolution of the opera staff and Brescianello lost his position. For this reason, he dedicated himself increasingly to composition and this resulted in his 12 concerti e sinphonie op. 1 and some time later the 18 Pieces for gallichone (gallichone here means mandora
, a type of lute). In 1744, the financial problems at the court diminished and he was reappointed as Oberkapellmeister by Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg
, mostly "because of his special knowledge of music and excellent skills". He led the court and opera music until his pension in the period between 1751 and 1755. His successors were Ignaz Holzbauer
and then Niccolò Jommelli
.
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
– 4 October 1758, Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
) was an Italian Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
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 violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist.
His name is mentioned the first time in a document from 1715 in which the Elector of Bavaria appointed him violinist in his court orchestra in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Soon after, in 1716, after the death of Johann Christoph Pez
Johann Christoph Pez
Johann Christoph Pez , also Petz, was a musician, Kapellmeister and composer.- Life :Pez was born in Munich. From 1676, he was the tower watchman and later the Choir director at the Church of Saint Peter in Munich...
, he got the job of music director and as a maître des concerts de la chambre at the Württemberg court in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. In 1717, he was appointed Hofkapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
. Around 1718, he composed the pastorale opera La Tisbe, which he dedicated to the Archduke Eberhard Ludwig
Eberhard Ludwig
Duke Eberhard Louis was the tenth duke of Württemberg, from 1692 until 1733.-Biography:Eberhard Louis was born in Stuttgart the third child of Duke William Louis and his wife, Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt...
. Brescianello did this in vain hope that his opera would be listed at the Stuttgart theatre. In the years from 1719 to 1721, a fierce conflict emerged, in which Reinhard Keiser
Reinhard Keiser
Reinhard Keiser was a popular German opera composer based in Hamburg. He wrote over a hundred operas, and in 1745 Johann Adolph Scheibe considered him an equal to Johann Kuhnau, George Frideric Handel and Georg Philipp Telemann , but his work was largely forgotten for many...
repeatedly attempted to get Brescianello's post. In 1731, Brescianello became Oberkapellmeister. In 1737, the court had financial problems which led to dissolution of the opera staff and Brescianello lost his position. For this reason, he dedicated himself increasingly to composition and this resulted in his 12 concerti e sinphonie op. 1 and some time later the 18 Pieces for gallichone (gallichone here means mandora
Mandora
A mandora is a type of lute. The terms referred to different instruments at different periods in history.-Treble instrument:During the Renaissance, the term mandore was applied to the treble lute and in such usage it is difficult to distinguish from the mandola, the simple lute that is the ancestor...
, a type of lute). In 1744, the financial problems at the court diminished and he was reappointed as Oberkapellmeister by Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg
Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg
Charles Eugene , Duke of Württemberg was the eldest son of Duke Karl I Alexander and Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn and Taxis .-Life:...
, mostly "because of his special knowledge of music and excellent skills". He led the court and opera music until his pension in the period between 1751 and 1755. His successors were Ignaz Holzbauer
Ignaz Holzbauer
Ignaz Jakob Holzbauer was a composer of symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music, and a member of the Mannheim school. His aesthetic style is in line with that of the Sturm und Drang "movement" of German art and literature.Holzbauer was born in Vienna...
and then Niccolò Jommelli
Niccolò Jommelli
Niccolò Jommelli was an Italian composer. He was born in Aversa and died in Naples. Along with other composers mainly in the Holy Roman Empire and France, he made important changes to opera and reduced the importance of star singers.-Early life:Jommelli was born to Francesco Antonio Jommelli and...
.
List of selected works
- 12 concerti e sinphonie op. 1 (Amsterdam, 1738)
- I concerti a 3
- About 15 trio sonatas in various arrangements
- 18 Pieces for colachon
- Sinfonia a 4
- various sinfonias concertanti and concertos
- La Tisbe (Opera pastorale), 1717–18
- Missa solenne (four voices)
- 2 cantatas Sequir fera che fugge and Core amante di perche
Sources
- German Wikipedia article