Giuseppe Sammartini
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Baldassare Sammartini (6 January 1695 – November 1750) was an Italian composer and an oboist
.
A native of Milan
, he moved to London
together with his brother Giovanni Battista Sammartini
. He had started playing the oboe
in Milan and in London took up the post of oboist in the Opera orchestra in 1727. He later left the Opera and was patronised by Frederick, Prince of Wales
and his wife. He served them as Musical Director of the Chamber Concerts and was a member of their household.
Sammartini's compositions included sonatas for flute and violin, sonatas for 2 flutes with thoroughbass, 12 sonatas for violin (dedicated to the Princess of Wales
) 6 concerto
s for violin, concerto grosso
s, harpsichord concertos, 6 solo pieces for the German flute and 6 sonatas for 2 German flutes and violins. He also composed a number of lively pieces for cello
, such as "Movement D'une Seranade", and one opera
, The Judgment of Paris which premiered in Cliveden
c.1740.
One of his best-known compositions is the Concerto in F for soprano recorder, strings, and continuo.
He died in London in 1750.
Oboist
An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe or any oboe family instrument, including the cor anglais, oboe d'amore, shawm and oboe musette....
.
A native of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
together with his brother Giovanni Battista Sammartini
Giovanni Battista Sammartini
Giovanni Battista Sammartini was an Italian composer, organist, choirmaster and teacher. He counted Gluck among his students, and was highly regarded by younger composers including Johann Christian Bach...
. He had started playing the oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
in Milan and in London took up the post of oboist in the Opera orchestra in 1727. He later left the Opera and was patronised by Frederick, Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
and his wife. He served them as Musical Director of the Chamber Concerts and was a member of their household.
Sammartini's compositions included sonatas for flute and violin, sonatas for 2 flutes with thoroughbass, 12 sonatas for violin (dedicated to the Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
) 6 concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
s for violin, concerto grosso
Concerto grosso
The concerto grosso is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists and full orchestra...
s, harpsichord concertos, 6 solo pieces for the German flute and 6 sonatas for 2 German flutes and violins. He also composed a number of lively pieces for cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, such as "Movement D'une Seranade", and one opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, The Judgment of Paris which premiered in Cliveden
Cliveden
Cliveden is an Italianate mansion and estate at Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England. Set on banks above the River Thames, its grounds slope down to the river. The site has been home to an Earl, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor....
c.1740.
One of his best-known compositions is the Concerto in F for soprano recorder, strings, and continuo.
He died in London in 1750.
External links
- Guild Music entry to Giuseppe Sammartini (1695 - 1750)
- [ AllMusic entry on Giuseppe Baldassare Sammartini]
- MusicWeb entry on Giuseppe Sammartini