Tommaso Giordani
Encyclopedia
Tommaso Giordani was an Italian composer.
Giordani was born in Naples
and came from a musical family. His father was Carmine Giordani (or Giordano), who was born around 1695 in Naples, died after 1762, probably in London. A younger brother was Giuseppe Giordani
(1743–98), called "Giordanello". Tommaso was trained in Naples and moved with the family to London around 1752. After three years at Covent Garden
he brough out his first comic opera. In 1762 he appeared at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket as a singer. In 1764 he settled in Dublin. He was one of the leading musicians in the Irish capital from 1764 to 1781, when he returned to London; after two years, he came back to Dublin, where he spent the remainder of his life. He had a stake in an opera-house, which he founded in 1783, and in a music shop, neither of which was financially successful.
Among his compositions are a number of operas, an oratorio
, Isaac (1767), and a large quantity of overtures, sonata
s, concerto
s, quartets (mostly string quartet
s, though some with flute or keyboard), trios for violin, flute and basso continuo, songs, etc. He was organist of St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
, Dublin, from 1784 to 1798, and conducted a Te Deum
of his own at the celebration upon the recovery of King George III, 30 April 1789. Among his pupils were Lady Morgan, Tom Cooke, and John Field
, the inventor of the nocturne
, who made his debut at one of Giordani's Rotunda concerts (4 April 1792). His last opera, The Cottage, Festival, was produced at the Theatre Royal, Dublin
, 28 Nov., 1796. He died in Dublin.
Giordani was born in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and came from a musical family. His father was Carmine Giordani (or Giordano), who was born around 1695 in Naples, died after 1762, probably in London. A younger brother was Giuseppe Giordani
Giuseppe Giordani
Giuseppe Giordani was an Italian composer, mainly of opera.He was born in Naples, where he studied music with Domenico Cimarosa and Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli. In 1774 he was appointed as music director of the chapel of the Duomo of Naples. His first opera was released in 1779...
(1743–98), called "Giordanello". Tommaso was trained in Naples and moved with the family to London around 1752. After three years at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
he brough out his first comic opera. In 1762 he appeared at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket as a singer. In 1764 he settled in Dublin. He was one of the leading musicians in the Irish capital from 1764 to 1781, when he returned to London; after two years, he came back to Dublin, where he spent the remainder of his life. He had a stake in an opera-house, which he founded in 1783, and in a music shop, neither of which was financially successful.
Among his compositions are a number of operas, an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, Isaac (1767), and a large quantity of overtures, 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, 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, quartets (mostly string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
s, though some with flute or keyboard), trios for violin, flute and basso continuo, songs, etc. He was organist of St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
St Mary's Church , known also as St Mary's Pro-Cathedral or simply the Pro-Cathedral, is a pro-cathedral and is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland.-Status as "pro-cathedral":...
, Dublin, from 1784 to 1798, and conducted a Te Deum
Te Deum
The Te Deum is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum laudamus, rendered literally as "Thee, O God, we praise"....
of his own at the celebration upon the recovery of King George III, 30 April 1789. Among his pupils were Lady Morgan, Tom Cooke, and John Field
John Field (composer)
John Field was an Irish pianist, composer, and teacher. He was born in Dublin into a musical family, and received his early education there. The Fields soon moved to London, where Field studied under Muzio Clementi...
, the inventor of the nocturne
Nocturne
A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
, who made his debut at one of Giordani's Rotunda concerts (4 April 1792). His last opera, The Cottage, Festival, was produced at the Theatre Royal, Dublin
Theatre Royal, Dublin
At one stage in the history of the theatre in Britain and Ireland, the designation Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre was an indication that the theatre was granted a Royal Patent without which theatrical performances were illegal...
, 28 Nov., 1796. He died in Dublin.