Achille Simonetti
| Achille Simonetti | |
|---|---|
| Born | 
June 12, 1857 Turin  | 
| Died | 
November 19, 1928 (aged 71) London  | 
| Genres | Classical | 
| Occupation(s) | Violinist and composer | 
| Instruments | Violin | 
| Years active | Circa 1880–1928 | 
Achille Simonetti (12 June 1857 – 19 November 1928) was an Italian and English violinist and composer.
Early life and education
Born in Turin on the 12th of June 1857,[1] Simonetti left his family in Bologna (this can be gleaned from his letter to Mr Hill (of Hills and Sons) written in 1922,[2]) and completed his studies under Francesco Bianchi, Eugenio Cavallini, Giuseppe Gamba, Charles Dancla, regarded as the last exponent of the classical French school of violin playing,[3] and Camillo Sivori, the only pupil of Niccolo Paganini.[4]
Career
Simonetti became part of the first London Trio, an endeavour which occupied him from 1901 to 1907,[5] along with colleagues Amina Goodwin and William Whitehouse.[6]
From 1912 to 1919, he was a professor of violin at the Royal Irish Academy of Music,[7] and served as a teacher for many distinguished violinists, including Walter Starkie.
Simonetti was also an early champion of the Brahms Violin Concerto, and wrote a cadenza for the work.
Death
Simonetti died aged 71 in London on 19 November 1928.[8]
Selected compositions
- Orchestral
 
- Ronde joyeuse for string orchestra
 - Sérénade for string orchestra
 
- Chamber music
 
- Allegretto Romantico in D minor for viola and piano (published 1897)
 - Andante melancolique for violin (or cello) and piano
 - Ballata in C minor for viola and piano (published 1897)
 - Berceuse for violin and piano
 - Canzonetta for violin and piano
 - Capriccio for violin and piano
 - Cavatina for cello and piano
 - Elegia for cello and piano
 - Furlana, Italian Dance for violin and piano
 - Madrigale in D major for violin and piano (1901); Music has been set to this by Pietro Florida.[9]
 - Mazurka for violin and piano
 - Minuetto for violin and piano
 - Notturnino for violin and piano
 - Rêverie for violin and piano
 - Romanza for violin and piano
 - Romanzetta for violin and piano
 - Scènes montagnardes for violin and piano, Op. 12
 - Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano, Op. 9
 - String Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 14 (published 1904)
 - String Quartet No. 2 in B♭ major, Op. 16 (published c.1904)
 
- Piano
 
- Caprice-Mazurka for piano
 - Trois Morceaux caractéristiques (3 Character Pieces) for piano
 
References
- ↑ "Achille Simonetti is born". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
 - ↑ "Montagnana Books: Autographs Catalogue". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
 - ↑ "Charles Dancla: His Life & Times". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
 - ↑ Walter Starkie, Scholars and Gypsies (1963), P. 90-91.
 - ↑ http://www.concertprogrammes.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/4928
 - ↑ "Musik und Gender im Internet: Amina Goodwin". Retrieved 16 January 2011.
 - ↑ "Composers' Biographies Letter S". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
 - ↑ "Achille Simonetti dies". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
 - ↑ "Madrigale, Florida, Music by Simonetti". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
 
External links
  |