Ivan Mane Jarnović facts for kids

Ivan Mane Jarnović (born October 26, 1747 – died November 23, 1804) was a famous violinist and composer. He lived in the 1700s. People often thought he was Italian. But his family actually came from Ragusa, which is now part of Croatia. There's no proof he ever lived in Croatia. Later, it seems he became a French citizen. He moved to England during the French Revolution.

Jarnović traveled all over Europe during his career. He performed and lived in many big cities. These included Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, St Petersburg, Vienna, and London. He might have been a student of Antonio Lolli. He also knew Joseph Haydn. They even played concerts together in London.

It is believed Jarnović was born on a ship. This ship was sailing from Dubrovnik to Palermo, Sicily. He might also have been born in Palermo. He was baptized there on October 29, 1747. Jarnović passed away in St Petersburg, Russia, on November 23, 1804.

Mysteries About Jarnović's Life

Many parts of Jarnović's life are still a mystery. We don't know much about his childhood. Details about where he came from are also unclear. Some people believe his family was from Croatia. They might have been from the Karlovac-Delnice area.

Another strange thing is his name. His first names, Giovanni Mane, weren't written down until 36 years after he died. This was in a book from 1840. After that, these names became common. Today, they are often used in their Croatian form, Ivan Mane Jarnović. It's very unusual for a famous musician to have lived so long. Yet, his full name wasn't known until much later. His last name was also spelled in many ways. These included Jarnowick, Jarnovick, and Giornivichi. The spelling probably changed depending on the country he was in.

One document does show his full name. This is a record of his daughter Sophia's baptism in London in 1795. This document also tells us more about his family. Before, little was known about his daughters, "Mimi" and "Sofie." Now, we have some information about their lives.

His First Big Performance in Paris (1773)

Jarnović had a "sensational" first performance in Paris. This was at a Concert Spirituel on March 25, 1773. He played in three concerts in a row. People called him the "fameux violoniste" (famous violinist). For several years, he was very popular in Paris.

The Mercure de France newspaper described his playing. They said it was brilliant and elegant. It was also sensitive and full of life. He was famous for the "beau fini" (beautiful finish) and "l'elegance et l'expression" (elegance and expression) of his playing. He gave many concerts in 1775, 1776, and 1777. He also played at private parties in Paris. In December 1775, he "amazed" his audience. He seemed to play even better than usual. He performed a new violin concerto and some short, varied tunes. The Mercure de France later said that Polish violinist Felix Janiewicz was his student.

Working for Royalty and Traveling Europe

From 1779 to 1783, Jarnović worked for Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia. On May 14, 1783, he signed a three-year contract. He would work for Catherine II, the Empress of Russia, in St Petersburg.

After this, he traveled back west. He performed in Vienna and Paris, among other places. He lived in England from 1790 to 1796. He was very successful there. He mainly played in London. But he also performed in Bath, Edinburgh, and Dublin. Then he went back to Europe. He played in Hamburg, Berlin, and other German cities between 1797 and 1802. A writer for a music newspaper said his concerts were excellent. They admired the beauty of his violin concertos. They also praised his skill and powerful playing.

Near the end of 1802, he went to St Petersburg. He lived there for the last two years of his life.

Jarnović's Musical Works

Jarnović wrote about 50 pieces for small groups of instruments. He also composed 22 violin concertos. Seventeen of these concertos are still around today. He is known for adding the romanza to violin concertos. This is a slow, beautiful movement.

A music expert named Vjera Katalinić has studied his violin concertos.

A hymn tune called ST ASAPH is also linked to Jarnović. It was published in 1825. It might be a version of one of Jarnović's works.

His Students and Influence

When Jarnović was in England, he had several students. One of them was a young musical genius named George Bridgetower. Later, the famous composer Beethoven wrote a violin sonata for Bridgetower. This piece is now known as the Kreutzer Sonata.

Experts like Katalinić and Milligan have studied Jarnović's influence. They look at how he changed music forms and how people performed music.

Stories About His Life

Jarnović's life has been used in fictional stories. A novel called Jarnović by G. Desnoisterres was published in 1844. He also appears in a collection of stories called Scènes de la vie d'artiste by P. Smith. One story is titled "Une leçon de Jarnović" (A Lesson from Jarnović).

Celebrating 200 Years in St Petersburg

In 2004, a special event was held in St Petersburg. It was a seminar and concert to honor Jarnović. This was 200 years after his death. The St Petersburg Union of Composers hosted the event. Many music experts and performers attended. This included Professor Vladimir Gurevich. Also present were Jarnović specialists Vjera Katalinić and Stanislav Tuksar from Zagreb. A descendant of one of Jarnović's daughters also traveled from South Africa to attend.

See also

• List of notable Ragusans