Robert Valentine (composer) facts for kids
Robert Valentine (born around 1671 – died May 26, 1747) was a talented English musician. He was also known by his Italian names, Roberto Valentini and Roberto Valentino. He played the recorder, oboe, and violin. Robert moved to Rome, Italy, and became an Italian citizen. He is famous for writing many pieces of music for the recorder.
Robert Valentine's Life Story
Robert Valentine was born around 1671. He was baptized in Leicester, England, on January 16, 1674. His father, Thomas Follentine, was a town musician in Leicester. This means he was a musician who played for the town. Robert's older brothers, Thomas and Henry, also played music.
The Valentine family became very important in Leicester's music scene. Later musicians like John Valentine and Ann Valentine were part of this musical family.
Robert Valentine didn't spend much time in England as an adult. He moved to Italy, where people called him by his Italian names. He settled in Rome and married Giulia Bellatti in September 1701. They had nine children together, but only three lived longer than their parents.
He passed away in Rome on May 26, 1747. This was just 12 days after his wife died. For a long time, people thought he had died back in England, but this was not true.
Robert Valentine's Musical Works
Valentine is especially known for writing many musical pieces for the recorder. He was also a very skilled player of this instrument. Besides the recorder, he also played the oboe and violin.
His music was mostly instrumental, meaning it was played by instruments, not sung. He wrote many sonatas and trio sonatas. A sonata is a piece for one or two instruments. A trio sonata is for three or four players. He also wrote some concerto grosso pieces. These are like concertos, but for a group of solo instruments with an orchestra.
At first, his music sounded a lot like the famous composer Arcangelo Corelli. But over time, his style changed. He started writing in the "Galante" style. This was a lighter, more elegant style of music. You can hear this change in the sonatas he published later in Northern Europe.
Valentine's music was very popular with people who played instruments for fun. In the early 1700s, many people in England enjoyed playing the flute and recorder. The recorder was also popular for concerts back then.
A writer named John Hawkins wrote about Valentine in 1776. He said that many gentlemen carried a flute with them. They would play it to entertain ladies or anyone who liked simple tunes. Hawkins mentioned that if someone could play a solo by Robert Valentine, they were considered a "complete master" of the instrument.
See also
- John Ravenscroft (composer), another English composer who also moved to Rome around Valentine's time.
