Andrea Luchesi facts for kids

Andrea Luca Luchesi (also spelled Lucchesi) was an Italian composer. He was born on May 23, 1741, and passed away on March 21, 1801. He was a famous musician who knew other great composers like Mozart and Beethoven.

Biography

Early Life and Music Training

Andrea Luchesi was born in a town called Motta di Livenza, near Treviso, Italy. He was the eleventh child in his family. His family was quite wealthy. They had moved from another city, Lucca, a long time ago. That's why their name was Luchese. Later, Andrea started using the name Luchesi.

He grew up in his hometown. His older brother, Matteo, taught him music and other subjects. Matteo was a priest, a teacher, and an organist.

Moving to Venice

Around 1757, Andrea moved to Venice. A kind nobleman named Jseppo Morosini helped him. This allowed Andrea to study with many important musicians. Some of his teachers included Baldassare Galuppi, who was very well-known.

Andrea's music career in Venice grew quickly. In 1761, he became an examiner for organists. By 1764, he was the organist at a church called San Salvatore. He wrote many pieces for the organ and cembalo. He also composed instrumental music, sacred music, and music for the theater.

He wrote music for important events. For example, in 1771, he composed music for the funeral of the Duke of Montealegre. The Duke was the Spanish ambassador to Venice. Andrea was also a famous virtuoso, meaning he was very skilled at playing music. He was invited to play the organ in many places. He even played at the opening of a new organ in the basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua.

Traveling to Vienna and Meeting Mozart

In the spring of 1765, Andrea's opera L'isola della fortuna was performed in Vienna.

In 1771, Leopold and Wolfgang Mozart met Andrea Luchesi while traveling in Italy. Andrea gave them one of his concertos for cembalo. Wolfgang Mozart continued to play this concerto years later. Leopold and his daughter Nannerl often used it for teaching and practicing.

Court Musician in Bonn

At the end of 1771, Luchesi moved to Bonn. He had a three-year contract there. He was invited by the Prince Elector Archbishop of Cologne, Maximilian Friedrich von Königsegg-Rothenfels. The Prince Elector wanted to improve his court orchestra.

After the previous Kapellmeister died, Andrea Luchesi became the official court Kapellmeister in 1774. A Kapellmeister was the leader of the court orchestra and music.

Andrea became a citizen of Bonn. In 1775, he married Anthonetta Josepha d'Anthoin. She was the daughter of a senior advisor to the Prince Elector. Andrea lived in Bonn until he died in 1801. He did visit Venice in 1783-84. His role as Kapellmeister ended in 1794. This happened when French troops invaded during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Luchesi and Beethoven

The young Beethoven was part of the court chapel in Bonn from 1781 to 1792. He worked as an assistant organist, cembalo player, and viola player. Luchesi's presence likely influenced Beethoven's music training. However, we don't have clear proof that Luchesi formally taught Beethoven.

When Luchesi was away in 1783-84, the court organist Christian Gottlob Neefe took over as conductor and teacher. Luchesi assigned the organ duties to the very young Beethoven.

Andrea Luchesi had one daughter and four sons. His first two sons, Maximilian Friederich and M. Jakob Ferdinand, were talented musicians.

Luchesi passed away on March 21, 1801, in Bonn. He was 59 years old.

Works

Andrea Luchesi composed many different types of music. Here are some of his important works:

• L’isola della fortuna: This was an opera buffa (a funny opera). It was first performed in Vienna in 1765.
• Ademira: This was an opera seria (a serious opera). He wrote it in 1784 to honor the visit of King Gustavus III of Sweden to Venice.
• Other operas: Il marito geloso (1766), Le donne sempre donne (1767), Il giocatore amoroso (1769), Il matrimonio per astuzia (1771), L’inganno scoperto ovvero il conte Caramella (1773, with words by Carlo Goldoni).
• Oratorio Sacer trialogus (1768): An oratorio is a large musical work for voices and orchestra, usually on a religious theme.
• Stabat Mater (around 1770): A religious musical work.
• Requiem (1771): A special mass for the dead. He wrote this one for the funeral of the Duke of Montealegre.
• Various masses and sacred works: These include a Mass for San Lorenzo in Venice and a Te Deum (a hymn of praise).
• Passione di N.S. Gesù Cristo (1776): A musical work about the Passion of Jesus Christ.
• Many organ works:
  • 12 sonatas known as Donelli Collection.
  • 6 sonatine and 8 divertimenti.
• Celebration music for the feast of San Rocco in Venice (1769).
• Serenata for the duke of Brunswick (1764).
• Cantata for the duke of Württemberg (1767). A cantata is a vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment.
• 2 Symphonies (by 1768). A symphony is a long musical composition for a full orchestra.
• 6 Sonatas 'per il cembalo con l’accompagnamento di un violino' Op.1 (Bonn, 1772). A sonata is a musical composition for one or more instruments.
• Concerto for harpsichord (Bonn, 1773). A concerto is a musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra.

See also

In Spanish: Andrea Luchesi para niños