|
Mauro Giuliani -- Great 19th Century Guitarist |
|
|
|
|
Written by nukelele
|
|
|
|
Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829), an Italian, is one of the most important exponents of the guitar and its music of the nineteenth century. Following an extended stay in Vienna, after 1807 he had a great influence as performer. He initiated the trend toward extensive concert tours for guitarists, thus spreading the guitar's acceptance as a serious instrument throughout Europe.
In Vienna, Mauro Giuliani's influence on musical life was profound. He initiated concerts of guitar and orchestra. He frequently performed with some of the most important musical figures of his time because of his outstanding technical and musical accomplishments.
Giuliani's associates included Karl Seidler, Spohr, Loder and Anton Diabelli. Though Diabelli (1781-1858) was both a pianist and a guitarist, of greater importance was the fact that he was a music publisher. It was in this capacity that his association with Giuliani proved particularly profitable.
He issued many guitar compositions, including those of Giuliani, and his efforts to promote guitar music had a significant effect on the increased popularity of the instrument. Giuliani's daughter Emilia was at one time credited with the discovery of harmonics on the guitar.Franz Schubert (1797-1828) played and wrote music for the guitar.
Too poor to own a piano, he used the guitar while composing. He wrote many beautiful songs with guitar accompaniment but his most important contribution to guitar literature, however, was the Quartet for flute, guitar, viola and cello.
Many other Italian guitarists followed Giuliani's example by concertizing and publishing their music in Vienna. one of the most important was Luigi Legnani (1790-1877). He developped a technique and virtuosity that were eventually to surpass Giuliani's.Legnani's interest included guitar construction. Many of his suggestions led to valuable improvements on the instrument. As a composer he was prolific. His works numbered up to opus 250 and included a concerto, duos, trios, variations, Thirty-six Cappricios and a Scherzo
( courtesy F Faucher) |
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 14 July 2006 )
|
Features 
