A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Draghi, Giovanni
DRAGHI, Giovanni Baptista, was an Italian musician who settled in London in the middle of the 17th century, and who, during his long residence in this country, so completely adopted the English style of composition that he must be regarded as in effect an English composer. It has been conjectured that he was a brother of Antonio Draghi. The earliest notice of him is found in Pepys's Diary, under date of Feb. 12, 1667. The diarist there mentions having heard him (at Lord Brouncker's house) sing through an act of an Italian opera which he had written and composed at the instance of Thomas Killigrew, who had an intention of occasionally introducing such entertainments at his theatre. Pepys expresses in strong terms his admiration of the composition. It is extremely doubtful whether this opera was ever produced. Draghi however lived to witness the introduction into this country of the Italian opera at the commencement of the following century. He excelled as a player on the harpsichord, for which instrument he composed and published in England many lessons. He was music-master to Queen Anne, and probably also to her elder sister, Queen Mary. In 1675 he composed [App. p.618 "published; the opera was performed in 1673"] the act-tunes and some other instrumental music for Shadwell's opera 'Psyche': the remainder, including the whole of the vocal part, being composed by Matthew Lock. On the death of Lock in 1677 Draghi succeeded him as organist to Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II. In 1687, for the celebration of St. Cecilia's day, he composed music for Dryden's fine ode commencing 'From Harmony, from heavenly Harmony.' In 1706 he contributed part of the music to D'Urfey's comic opera, 'Wonders in the Sun; or, the Kingdom of the Birds,' produced at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket. Many songs by him are found in the collections of the period.
[ W. H. H. ]