A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Pugnani, Gaetano
PUGNANI, Gaetano, celebrated violinist, was born at Turin (or according to another source at Canavese) in 1727. He must be considered as one of the best representatives of the Piedmontese School of violin-playing. Being a pupil first of Somis, who studied under Corelli, and afterwards of Tartini, he combined the prominent qualities of the style and technique of both these great masters. He was appointed first violin to the Sardinian court in 1752, and began to travel in 1754. He made lengthened stays at Paris and in London, where he was for a time leader of the opera band, produced an opera of his own (Burney, Hist. iv. 494), and published trios, quartets, quintets, and symphonies. In 1770 Burney found him at Turin, and there he remained as leader, conductor, teacher and composer, for the rest of his life. He died in 1803.
To Pugnani more than to any other master of the violin appears to be due the preservation of the pure grand style of Corelli, Tartini and Vivaldi, and its transmission to the next generation of violinists. Apart from being himself an excellent player he trained a large number of eminent violinists such as Conforti, Bruni, Polledro and, above all, Viotti. He was also a prolific composer: he wrote a number of operas and ballets, which however appear not to have been very successful. Fétis gives the names of 9, and a list of his published instrumental compositions:—one violin-concerto (out of 9), 3 sets of violin-sonatas, duos, trios, quartets, quintets, and 12 symphonies for strings, oboes and horns.[ P. D. ]