SAMMARTINI, Giuseppe
b Milan, 6 January 1695
d London, November 1750, aged fifty-five

The son of a French oboist, he was himself an oboist, reputedly the finest in Europe. He gave his first performance in 1711. In 1728 he left Italy for London, where he stayed for the rest of his life, giving concerts and playing in orchestras. He became music-master to the household of Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1736. It was only after his death that his compositions became well-known.

1728-47 (33-52)

112 Concerti Grossi Performed posthumously:

1752 Overtures

1754 Four Giuseppe St Martinis Concertos

1756 Eight overtures

Six concertos

Sammartini also composed seventeen other concertos, three ballets, minuets and marches, many sonatas for various instruments, other solo pieces, nine cantatas and other vocal works.