Joseph Abaco
Encyclopedia
Joseph Abaco (27 March 1710 – 31 August 1805) was a Belgian violoncellist and composer
. He was born and baptised
in Brussels, Belgium on 27 March 1710, and was musically trained by his father, Evaristo Felice dall'Abaco.
At age nineteen Abaco entered into the service of the Prince-elector
at Bonn, Germany and played in the court chamber orchestra. He was appointed its music director in 1738. He traveled to England
in 1740. In 1753 he moved to Verona
, Italy
, where he worked as a member of the Philharmonic Academy
. In 1766 he was given the title of baron
by Prince Maximilian of Bavaria.
Abaco wrote nearly 40 cello
sonata
s, the Capricci for Violoncello Solo, and other works. Many of his compositions were written in an old-fashioned, Baroque
style.
Abaco died at his estate, Arbizzano di Valpolicella
, Italy
, near Verona, at the age of 95, on 31 August 1805.
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...
. He was born and baptised
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in Brussels, Belgium on 27 March 1710, and was musically trained by his father, Evaristo Felice dall'Abaco.
At age nineteen Abaco entered into the service of the Prince-elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
at Bonn, Germany and played in the court chamber orchestra. He was appointed its music director in 1738. He traveled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1740. In 1753 he moved to Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he worked as a member of the Philharmonic Academy
Teatro Filarmonico (Verona)
The Teatro Filarmonico or Verona Philharmonic Theatre is the main opera theater in Verona, Italy, and is one of the leading Opera Houses in Europe...
. In 1766 he was given the title of baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
by Prince Maximilian of Bavaria.
Abaco wrote nearly 40 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...
sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
s, the Capricci for Violoncello Solo, and other works. Many of his compositions were written in an old-fashioned, 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...
style.
Abaco died at his estate, Arbizzano di Valpolicella
Valpolicella
Valpolicella is a viticultural zone of the province of Verona, Italy, east of Lake Garda. The hilly agricultural and marble-quarrying region of small holdings north of the Adige is famous for wine production. Valpolicella ranks just after Chianti in total Italian Denominazione di Origine...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, near Verona, at the age of 95, on 31 August 1805.