Madame Ravissa facts for kids

Madame Ravissa de Turin was a talented Italian singer and composer who lived in the late 1700s. She was born in Turin, Italy, but spent some years in Paris, France, between 1778 and 1783. She is best known for her beautiful music written for the harpsichord, an old keyboard instrument similar to a piano.

Her Life and Music

Madame Ravissa published six pieces of music called sonatas in Paris in 1778. On these publications, she was described as a Maîtresse de Clavecin et de Chant italien. This means she was a teacher of the harpsichord and Italian singing. This shows how skilled she was in both playing and teaching music.

One copy of her sonatas was kept by Kaiser Franz II of Austria. For many years, this important music was stored away and forgotten. Then, in 1933, a music expert named Ernst Fritz Schmid found the manuscript. It was stored at the Steiermärkischer Musikverein. Today, this valuable music is kept safe at the Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna.

In 1778, a music magazine called the Parisian Almanach Musical wrote about her work. They said her music had "bold modulations." This means she used interesting and daring changes in musical notes and harmonies. The magazine noted that Italian composers loved these kinds of changes, but other composers were often too scared to try them. This shows Madame Ravissa was a brave and creative musician for her time.

Her Published Works

Madame Ravissa de Turin is primarily known for her collection of six sonatas. These pieces were written for the harpsichord. They were published in Paris in 1778. These sonatas are important because they show her unique musical style. They also give us a glimpse into the music of the late 18th century.