Francesco Manfredini facts for kids

Francesco Onofrio Manfredini (born June 22, 1684 – died October 6, 1762) was an Italian composer, violinist, and church musician. He lived during the Baroque period, which was a time of grand and dramatic music (roughly 1600-1750).

Francesco was born in Pistoia, Italy. His father was a trombonist, so music was likely a big part of his early life. He later moved to Bologna, which was then part of the Papal States (lands ruled by the Pope). There, he learned to play the violin from Giuseppe Torelli. Torelli was a very important musician who helped create the concerto grosso. This is a type of music where a small group of solo instruments plays against a larger orchestra.

Manfredini also studied how to compose music with Giacomo Antonio Perti. Perti was the maestro di cappella (music director) at the Basilica of San Petronio. Sadly, many of Manfredini's musical works are thought to have been lost after he died. We only know of 43 published pieces and a few handwritten ones. Experts say his music shows he was a very skilled composer.

What Kind of Music Did Manfredini Write?

Francesco Manfredini wrote oratorios, which are like plays set to music, usually about religious stories. However, only his non-religious works are still played today. He lived at the same time as famous composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. You can hear Vivaldi's influence in Manfredini's surviving music.

Around 1700, Manfredini became a violinist in the orchestra of the Church of San Spirito in Ferrara. But in 1704, he went back to Bologna. He rejoined the orchestra at San Petronio, which had been put back together. In the same year, he joined the Accademia Filarmonica. This was also when he published his first music, a set of twelve chamber sonatas called Concertini per camera, Op. 1. These were pieces for a small group of instruments.

In 1709, he released more music called Sinfonie da chiesa, Op. 2. These were also chamber pieces, meaning they were for smaller groups, and they went well with his earlier sonatas.

Manfredini's Time in Monaco

After 1711, Manfredini spent a long time in Monaco. He seemed to be working for Prince Antoine I. This prince had even been a student of Jean Baptiste Lully, a favorite composer of the French king Louis XIV.

We don't know exactly how long Manfredini stayed in Monaco or what his exact job was. But he was first mentioned in court records in 1712. In 1718, he published his Concerti Grossi for two violins and basso continuo, Op. 3, Nos. 1–12 in Bologna. He dedicated these pieces to Prince Antoine. Copies of his Sinfonie, Op. 2 were also found in the prince's music library.

One sign that Manfredini had a good relationship with the prince is that Prince Antoine became the godfather to Manfredini's son, Antonio Francesco. Manfredini had four other children while living in Monaco.

It seems both Manfredini and the prince were happy with this arrangement. Manfredini doesn't appear in historical records again until 1727. By then, he had returned to Pistoia. He became the maestro di cappella (music director) at St. Phillip's Cathedral. He kept this job until he died in 1762.

His Most Famous Work

The Naxos music label released a recording of Manfredini's Opus 3 in 1991. The notes for this recording suggest that his name might have been forgotten if he hadn't composed his Christmas Concerto (which is No. 12 of his Op. 3). These concerti grossi show that he was very good at creating easy and beautiful melodies.

Two of his sons also became musicians. Vincenzo became the music director for the Italian opera in St. Petersburg, Russia. His other son, Giuseppe, became a singer.

Why Is Manfredini Important Today?

In the 1970s, a music expert named H.C. Robbins Landon wrote an article called "A Pox on Manfredini." He wrote this to criticize record companies for releasing music from even the less well-known Baroque composers. However, Manfredini's music, especially his Christmas Concerto, is still enjoyed by many people today. It helps us understand the wider world of Baroque music beyond just the most famous names.

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