Giovanni Sgambati facts for kids
Giovanni Sgambati (born May 28, 1841 – died December 14, 1914) was a talented Italian pianist and composer. He played a big role in bringing famous German music to Italy.
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About Giovanni Sgambati
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Giovanni Sgambati was born in Rome, Italy. His father was Italian, and his mother was English. When he was young, his father passed away. He grew up in a town called Trevi in Umbria. There, he started writing church music. He also gained experience singing and leading music groups.
In 1860, Giovanni moved back to Rome. He began working to introduce great German music to Italy. At that time, this music was not very well known there. A very famous composer named Franz Liszt was in Rome from 1861. Liszt became a great friend and helped Giovanni a lot. They even held concerts together where Giovanni conducted and played the piano.
Around 1864 and 1865, Giovanni wrote several pieces. These included a string quartet, two piano quintets, an octet, and an overture. In 1866, he conducted Liszt's Dante Symphony. This was at the opening of a special hall in Rome. Later, he traveled with Liszt to Munich. There, he first discovered the music of another famous composer, Richard Wagner.
Giovanni's first album of songs came out in 1870. His first symphony was played in Rome in 1881. This symphony and a piano concerto were also performed when he visited England in 1882. During his second visit to England in 1891, another one of his symphonies was played.
One of his longest works was a Requiem Mass. This was performed in Rome in 1901. Many of his piano pieces became very popular and are still enjoyed today. Giovanni also helped other musicians. For example, he promoted the music of Dante Alderighi. He was the first to conduct Beethoven's third and seventh symphonies in Italy. He also introduced Liszt's Dante Symphony and Christus oratorio to Italian audiences.
Giovanni Sgambati passed away in Rome when he was 73 years old. Some of his notable students were the pianist and composer Lucia Contini Anselmi and the singer Mary Augusta Wakefield.
What Giovanni Sgambati Composed
Giovanni Sgambati wrote many different kinds of music. Here are some of his important works:
Music for Orchestra
- Cola di Rienzo Overture (1866)
- Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 15 (1878–1880)
- Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 16 (1880–1881)
- Symphony No. 2 in E-flat major (1883–1885)
Chamber Music
This is music for a small group of instruments.
- String Quartet in D minor (1864)
- Piano Quintet No. 1 in F minor, Op. 4 (1866)
- Piano Quintet No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 5
- String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 17 (1882)
- Two Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 24 (1890)
- Gondoliera for violin and piano, Op. 29 (1894)
Piano Music
Giovanni wrote many pieces just for the piano.
- Prélude et Fugue, Op. 6
- Deux Études de concert, Op. 10
- Fogli Volanti, Op. 12
- Gavotte in A-flat minor, Op.14 (1880)
- Quattro pezzi di seguito, Op. 18
- 3 Notturni, Op.20 (1873–87)
- Suite in B minor, Op. 21 (1888)
- Pièces Lyriques, Op. 23
- Mélodies poétiques, Op. 36
- Trois morceaux, Op. 42 (1909–10)
- Étude triomphale in A, Op. posth.
- Sérénade valsée in A-flat, Op. posth.
- Melody from "Orfeo ed Euridice" (a piano version of a famous dance from Gluck's opera)
Sacred Music
This is music written for religious purposes.
- Messa da Requiem, Op. 38 (1895–1901)
See also
- List of compositions by Giovanni Sgambati
