| Today in Music History A Daily Look at Music History For Violin Students A Look at What Happened on Today's Date Long, Long Ago . . . Or Maybe Just Last Year |
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| TODAY IS June 11 |
| What Else Happened Today? |
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| Francesco Antonio Bonporti was born in Trento, Italy June 11, 1672.
He was born to an aristocratic family, trained in humanities in Trent, then philosophy in Innsbruck, Austria. His theological training occurred in Rome at the Collegium Germanicum. Repeated attempts to gain a post as court musician failed. He returned to Trento in 1694, where he would spend the next 46 years as a minor priest in the Cathedral there. |
| 1864 - Richard Strauss, German composer, was born. 1899 - George Frederick McKay, US composer, was born. in Harrington, WA. 1960 - Premiere of Benjamin Britten's opera A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh. 1970 - Alan Hovhaness's And God Created Great Whales premiered at a New York Philharmonic Orchestra Promenade Concert. It features the orchestra and the taped songs of humpback whales. 1976 - Wild Cherry's single Play That Funky Music was released. 1993 - The Ike and Tina Turner film biography What's Love Got To Do With It? opened. 1987 - Premiere of Michael Torke's ballet Purple, at the New York State Theater |
| Francesco Antonio Bonporti 1672-1749 |
| It is said that as part of his education Bonporti took instruction from Arcangelo Corelli (violin) and Ottavio Pitoni (composition). In 1696 he published his ten trio sonatas op. 1. Over the course of his career Bonporti published 12 books of musical works. He wrote four sets of trio sonatas for 2 violins and continuo, a set of Motets for soprano and strings, 3 sets of violin sonatas, and a set of Concerti. Three published sets have not survived. Throughout his lfe Bonporti sought higher office within the church, as well as continuing to seek employment as a court musician and composer. He dedicated works to various influential individuals, but his currying favor with important individuals was to no avail. Although Bonporti spent the majorit of his life in Trento, where he was born, his name was well-known throughout Europe during his lifetime. He finally retired in 1740, and moved to Padua, where he died December 19, 1749. Bonporti was evidently a skilled violinist. Or if not a skilled performer, he certainly understood the instrument very well. Bonporti developed the Invenzione, and Johann Sebastian Bach copied Bonporti's Opus X for study. For many years musical scholars actually believed that Bach had composed the works, since they were found among Bach's papers and in his hand, and they were mistatakenly included in the Bach Gesellschaft for years. It was this discovery that brought Bonporti's name back to the light. Bonporti's Opus XI Concerti and the Opus XII Serenate and Concertini all show his skill at composing for the violin. His work was characterised by the delightful inventiveness of its rhythmic forms, the brilliance of its harmonies, and the warm radiance of its melodic line |
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| GREAT SUMMERTIME FUN for violinists. Smile as you, or any other violin lover tells folks. "The Only Metal Instrument I Want to Hold is my Spatula." |
| Bonporti's Invenziones for Violin |
| Can You Guess? There was another virtuoso violin pieces that held a position as a Catholic priest Can You Guess who that Italian composer was? Go to the Bottom of the Page for the Answer |
| Did You Guess? Antonio Vivaldi was a Catholic priest. Did you see the color clues? |
| Straus Model 500 Electric Violin & Case We don't know of anyone offering an electric violin of this quality at a price this low! |
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