The Violin and Old Violin Makers: Being a Historical & Biographical Account of the Violin, with Facsimiles of Labels of the Old MakersClarke, A. Mason
History
The Violin and Old Violin Makers: Being a Historical & Biographical Account of the Violin, with Facsimiles of Labels of the Old Makers
Clarke, A. Mason
Violin -- History; Violin makers
Such a gifted musician as Corelli was not likely to quit this life
without leaving the impress of his artistic feelings upon those who
sought his instruction, and we have ample proof of the great influence
he exerted in the names of G. B. Somis (1676-1763) F. Geminiani
(1680-1762), and Locatelli (1693-1764). Somis was a close follower of
his master, and it is quite easy to believe this on a comparison of
their respective sonatas. Geminiani asserted more of his individuality,
and this, coupled with the fact of his having received theoretical
instruction from Alessandro Scarlatti, one of the most learned musicians
of the day, no doubt contributed to his making a decided advance on the
violin music of the time. Notwithstanding his increased knowledge as a
theorist, and his greater ability as an executant, Geminiani laboured
long to bring into prominence and popularity the artistic conceptions of
his renowned violin master. His first effort in this direction was made
in 1726 (Geminiani being then in London), when he formed Corelli’s first
six solos into concertos, a style of composition then recently called
into existence, shortly afterwards treating another six in a similar
manner. Others underwent the same process, but to these were added
additional parts. Geminiani was one of the first in the field of musical
expression, even sacrificing strict time to obtain it.
Locatelli furnishes us with another example, not only of the advance of
technique, but of the progress of musical culture. His works called “The
Labyrinth,” “The New Art of Modulation” and “Harmonic Contrasts” are
alone sufficient to establish him as a great reformer in the musical
world of his time. As we have elsewhere observed, Torelli is credited
with having fixed the form of the concerto, and a few lesser lights,
such as the two Veracinis and Alberti, live to this day by their works.
The next master whose influence marked another step in the development
of classical music for the violin was Guiseppe Tartini (1692-1770). Here
we have a man destined for all time to stand out as one of the most
indefatigable pioneers of the violin. In his quadruple capacity as a
performer, composer, theorist and teacher, his influence was
far-reaching, and, what is more, it has been transmitted down to the
present time. As a composer, his style of modulation was a new thing,
and his performance came as a revelation to those who heard him for the
first time. His “Devil’s Sonata” is well-known to all violinists.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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