January 4, 2016.Giuseppe Sammartini.Giuseppe Sammartini, not to be confused with his younger brother Giovanni Battista Sammartini, was born on January 6th of 1695 in Milan.Their father, Alexis Saint-Martin, a Frenchman, was an oboist, and he taught the instrument to his children.Both brothers became professional oboists playing in different professional orchestras, including that of the newly-opened Teatro Regio Ducal (this grand opera house burned down in 1776 and was replaced, in 1778, with the Nuovo Regio Ducal Teatro alla Scala, which we now know simply as Teatro alla Scala).Johann Joachim Quantz, a famous flutist and composer, considered Giuseppe the best oboe player in Italy.Sammartini probably also played the flute and the recorder: most oboists of the time played those instruments and Sammartini composed a large number of pieces for these instruments.One of his first compositions, an Oboe Concerto, was published in Amsterdam in 1717.In 1727 Sammartini moved to Brussels and then to London, where he was recognized as a supreme master of the oboe.He remained in England for the rest of his life.He became friendly with the composer Maurice Greene and played solos in the operas of Handel and Bononcini.In 1736 Sammartini accepted a lucrative position as a music teacher to the wife and the children of the Prince of Wales.He remained in this position till his death in 1750.
Sammartini, praised as “the greatest oboist that the world has ever known,” was said to have had a remarkable tone, which had the qualities of the human voice.He was also an influential teacher and helped to create the English oboe school.These days, though, he’s mostly remembered as a fine composer. During his lifetime he was known as a composer of chamber music, especially of flute sonatas and trios.Most of his concertos were published posthumously, but they are the ones that are most popular these days.Here’s his Concerto for the Recorder in F Major.It’s performed by Pamela Thorby, recorder, and the ensemble Sonnerie, Monica Huggett conducting.Sammartini wrote four keyboard concertos; here’s one of them, in A Major.Donatella Bianchi is on the harpsichord, ensemble I Musici Ambrosiani is conducted by Paolo Suppa, conductor.Finally, an Oboe Concerto, in this case, no. 12 in C Major, here.Franscesco Quaranta is playing oboe, also with I Musici Ambrosiani and Paolo Suppa.
Among many other birthdays this week are that of Francis Poulenc, who was born on January 7th of 1899 and Alexander Scriabin, born on January 6th of 1872. Here’s Scriabin’s Piano Sonata no. 10, his last piano sonata.It was composed in 1913, two years before the composer’s death.It’s performed by the American pianist Kathy Kim.
Giuseppe Sammartini, 2016
January 4, 2016. Giuseppe Sammartini. Giuseppe Sammartini, not to be confused with his younger brother Giovanni Battista Sammartini, was born on January 6th of 1695 in Milan. Their father, Alexis Saint-Martin, a Frenchman, was an oboist, and he taught the instrument to his children. Both brothers became
professional oboists playing in different professional orchestras, including that of the newly-opened Teatro Regio Ducal (this grand opera house burned down in 1776 and was replaced, in 1778, with the Nuovo Regio Ducal Teatro alla Scala, which we now know simply as Teatro alla Scala). Johann Joachim Quantz, a famous flutist and composer, considered Giuseppe the best oboe player in Italy. Sammartini probably also played the flute and the recorder: most oboists of the time played those instruments and Sammartini composed a large number of pieces for these instruments. One of his first compositions, an Oboe Concerto, was published in Amsterdam in 1717. In 1727 Sammartini moved to Brussels and then to London, where he was recognized as a supreme master of the oboe. He remained in England for the rest of his life. He became friendly with the composer Maurice Greene and played solos in the operas of Handel and Bononcini. In 1736 Sammartini accepted a lucrative position as a music teacher to the wife and the children of the Prince of Wales. He remained in this position till his death in 1750.
Sammartini, praised as “the greatest oboist that the world has ever known,” was said to have had a remarkable tone, which had the qualities of the human voice. He was also an influential teacher and helped to create the English oboe school. These days, though, he’s mostly remembered as a fine composer. During his lifetime he was known as a composer of chamber music, especially of flute sonatas and trios. Most of his concertos were published posthumously, but they are the ones that are most popular these days. Here’s his Concerto for the Recorder in F Major. It’s performed by Pamela Thorby, recorder, and the ensemble Sonnerie, Monica Huggett conducting. Sammartini wrote four keyboard concertos; here’s one of them, in A Major. Donatella Bianchi is on the harpsichord, ensemble I Musici Ambrosiani is conducted by Paolo Suppa, conductor. Finally, an Oboe Concerto, in this case, no. 12 in C Major, here. Franscesco Quaranta is playing oboe, also with I Musici Ambrosiani and Paolo Suppa.
Among many other birthdays this week are that of Francis Poulenc, who was born on January 7th of 1899 and Alexander Scriabin, born on January 6th of 1872. Here’s Scriabin’s Piano Sonata no. 10, his last piano sonata. It was composed in 1913, two years before the composer’s death. It’s performed by the American pianist Kathy Kim.