Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni
Written by Neemers1 on Thursday 13 March 2008
Born June 8, 1671, in Venice, Italy, Baroque composer Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni primarily composed operas and instrumentals during his career. Being from a wealthy merchant family, Albinoni was exposed to the arts from an early age, studying b0th violin and singing early on. He would ultimately make a career in Italy as an independent musician, and though more than 230 works can be credited to his name, the Venetian composer still considered himself an amateur for most of his professional life.
His career began in earnest in 1694 with “Opus 1,” followed by a second opus in 1700 and another in 1701. This latter work, “Opus 3,” was dedicated to Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany, a gesture indicative of Albinoni’s connections to prominent patrons (though never directly employed by any one). Due to being a man of independent wealth, Albinoni did not have to pursue posts at a church or the court like other artists. Nonetheless, he was occasionally invited to direct, compose, and create by famed admirers, such as Maximilian II.
In 1705, Albinoni married well-known opera singer Margherita Raimondi. Balancing personal and professional life, he would continue to compose until about 1740, even through the tragic loss of Margherita in 1721. His work no doubt helping him to cope. During his career, Albinoni would compose over 50 operas, more than 40 cantatas, 79 sonatas, 59 concertos, and eight sinfonias. A prolific composer, he is best-noted for his instrumentals and is credited as being the first to feature the oboe in an Italian concerto (“Opus 7”). His career spans some 47 years from 1694-1740/41, working chiefly in Venice; although he also worked in other parts of the country like Genoa, Bologna, Piacenza, and Naples.
Albinoni’s influence can be found in artists in music history as varied as Johann Sebastian Bach to rocker Jim Morrison. His “Adagio in G minor” for instance, has been used as source on a number of interpretations, musical arrangements, and modern film soundtracks (e.g. Peter Wier’s Gallipoli). His published works of note include Opuses 1-10, his first opera Zenobia (1764) and final work, Artamene (1740).
It is believed that Albinoni passed away in Venice in 1751. He lived his final years in self-imposed obscurity, content to leave the limelight alone in favor of repose and quietude in old age. He passed away on January 17, 1751, at the age of 84.
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