Vincenzo Tommasini facts for kids

Vincenzo Tommasini

Vincenzo Tommasini (born September 17, 1878, died December 23, 1950) was a talented Italian composer. He was born in the city of Rome. Tommasini is remembered for his important role in bringing orchestral music back to life in Italy during the 20th century.

Early Life and Studies

Vincenzo Tommasini was a very dedicated student. He studied at the University of Rome, called La Sapienza. There, he focused on philology, which is the study of language and literature. He also studied the ancient Greek language.

At the same time, he was deeply involved in music. He studied music at the Academy of St. Cecilia, a famous music school in Rome. In 1902, Tommasini traveled a lot around Europe. During this time, he learned from the well-known composer Max Bruch in Berlin, Germany.

Musical Successes

Tommasini first became known for a short opera called Uguale fortuna. This opera was only one act long and won a national competition.

His biggest success around the world was in 1916. He took music written by Domenico Scarlatti for a keyboard instrument (like a piano) and changed it for an orchestra. This new version was used for a ballet called The Good-Humoured Ladies (Le donne di buon umore). A ballet is a type of dance performance that tells a story through music and movement. This work was created for Sergei Diaghilev's famous ballet company.

Tommasini also worked with the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini. Together, they finished an opera called Nerone, which had been started by another composer, Arrigo Boito.

Other Works

Besides his famous ballet arrangement, Tommasini wrote other important pieces. One of these was Paesaggi toscani (which means Tuscan Landscapes). This was a piece for a full orchestra. He also wrote a set of variations for orchestra based on the famous song Carnival of Venice. Variations are different versions of the same musical theme.

Selected Film Music

Vincenzo Tommasini also composed music for films.

• A Pistol Shot (1942)