The Violin and Old Violin Makers: Being a Historical & Biographical Account of the Violin, with Facsimiles of Labels of the Old Makers — John Shaqi
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
We now arrive at a name which brings us in touch with other members of
the fiddle family. Luigi Boccherini (1740-1806), who is justly
considered the father of chamber music for stringed instruments. It was
he who, in 1768, gave definition to the form of the trio, the quartet
and the quintet; forms which have served for the models of all
subsequent composers. In the trio he was followed by Fiorillo, Cramer,
Giardini, Pugnani and Viotti, and in the quartet by Mozart. His other
styles were elaborated by Haydn and Beethoven. Boccherini was a prolific
composer.
Three names should here be mentioned in connection with the concerto, in
whose hands it underwent great improvement. They are Pugnani
(1728-1798), Jarnowick (1745-1804), and Mestrino (1750-1790).
The next and last great representative of the Italian school, and one
who largely influenced the French school, was Giovanni Battista Viotti
(1755-1824), a pupil of Pugnani. The name of Viotti stands out with
peculiar lustre, in that with him the concerto arrived at a degree of
perfection hardly capable of being exceeded. The same may be said of his
trios and duos, both of which should be studied and cultivated by every
young violin aspirant. In Viotti the Italians have certainly produced a
fitting tailpiece to a long line of brilliant composers for the violin,
a line in which no artistic hiatus appears from the time of Corelli.
* * * * * * * *
The first to establish a French school was Jean Marie Leclair
(1679-1764). Although he received his instructions from Somis, the
Italian, and became thoroughly imbued with Italian tastes and ideas, he
laboured incessantly, on his return to France, with the object of
establishing a distinct school for his country, and in many respects he
was successful. In 1723 he published a series of solos, and soon
afterwards six sonatas for two violins and bass; also duos, trios and
concertos.
The next to claim attention among the French classical composers is
Pierre Gavinies (1728-1800). He was the first professor at the Paris
Conservatoire, then but recently formed, and the compositions he
contributed testify to considerable musical culture: they are of great
difficulty, and are, for the most parts, sonatas and concertos.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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