A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Sgambati, Giovanni

by George Grove

SGAMBATI, Giovanni, a remarkable pianist and composer, was born at Rome May 28, 1843. His mother was English, the daughter of Joseph Gott, sculptor, a native of London, who had for many years practised his art in Rome. Giovanni was intended for his father's profession, that of an advocate, and would have been educated with that view but for his strong turn for music.

After the death of the father in 1849 the mother migrated with her two children to Trevi in Umbria, where she married again. The boy learned the piano and harmony from Natalucci, a former pupil of Zingarelli's at the Conservatorio of Naples; and from the age of six often played in public, sang contralto solos in church, conducted small orchestras, and was known as the author of several sacred pieces. In the year 1860 he settled at Rome and soon became famous for his playing, and for the classical character of his programmes. His favourite composers were Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann, and he was an excellent interpreter of the fugues of Bach and Handel. Shortly after this he was on the point of going to Germany to study, when Liszt's arrival in Rome saved him from that necessity. With him Sgambati worked long and diligently. He soon began to give orchestral concerts, at which the symphonies and concertos of the German masters were heard in Rome for the first time under his bâton. In 1864 he wrote a String Quartet; in 1866 a PF. Quintet (F minor, op. 4); in 1867, an Octet, a second PF. Quintet (G minor, op. 5), an Overture for full orchestra, to Cassa's 'Cola di Rienzi,' etc., etc. He conducted Liszt's 'Dante' Symphony at Rome, Feb. 26, 1866, with great success and credit to himself. In 1869 Liszt and he made a visit to Germany together, and at Munich Sgambati heard Wagner's music for the first time. In 1870 he published an album of 5 songs (Blanchi), which was quickly followed by other vocal pieces. Sgambati had for some time attracted the notice of Herr von Keudell, the well-known amateur, and Prussian Ambassador at Rome. At the orchestral concerts which he conducted at the Embassy, several of his works were first heard; and there, in 1877, he and his music first made the favourable acquaintance of Wagner, through whose recommendation the two quintets and other pieces were published by Schotts of Mayence. Encouraged by this well-merited recognition he composed a Prelude and Fugue for the PF. (op. 6), a Festival Overture, a Concerto for PF. and orchestra, a second String Quartet, various PF. pieces, and a Symphony for full orchestra. The symphony was produced at a concert in the Quirinal, March 28, 1881, in presence of the King and Queen of Italy, and other great personages. Its success was great, and the King conferred on Sgambati the order of the Crown of Italy on the occasion. In 1882 he made his first visit to England, and performed his PF. Concerto at the Philharmonic of May 11, and his Symphony at the Crystal Palace, June 10. Both works were well received, but the symphony made much the greater impression of the two. Though original in ideas and character it adheres to the established forms; it is at once thought fully worked out and gracefully expressed, with a great deal of effect and no lack of counterpoint and it left a very favourable impression.

In 1869 Sgambati founded a free PF. class in the Academy of St. Cecilia at Rome. This has since been adopted as part of the foundation of the Academy, and in 1878 he himself became professor of the piano and a member of the Direction.

[App. p.792 "Add that in May 1884 he was invited as representative of Italy to the international concerts at the Trocadéro in Paris, where he conducted his first symphony. In 1886 he was named one of the five corresponding members of the French Institut to fill the place vacated by the death of Liszt.

In 1887 he was invited to conduct his second symphony and to execute his first quintet at the great musical festival of the Tonküinstler-Versammlung, in Cologne."]

The following list shows the chief of his published works to this date (July 1882).

Op.	1.	Album of 5 songs (Blanchi).
	2.	Album of 10 songs (Ricordi).
	3.	Notturno, PF. (Manganelli).
	4.	Quintet for PF. and strings (F minor).
	5.	Quintet ditto. (G minor).
	6.	Prelude and Fugue in E♭ minor, PF. solo.
	7.
	8.
	9.
	10.	2 Etudes for PF. solo; 1 in D♭; 2 in F♯ minor.
	11.
	12.	Fogli volanti.
	13.
	14.	Gavotte.
	15.	Concerto in G minor for PF.
	16.	Symphony in D.
App. p.792 "to the list of works add the following:—
Op.	17.	Quartet for strings in D♭.
	18.	Four pieces for PF.: Preludio. Vecchio minuetto, Nenia, Toccata.
	19.	Four Italian Songs.
	20.	Three Nocturnes for PF.
		Four songs without opus number.

[App. p.792 "The following are to be published shortly: Suite for PF. (op. 21), Prelude. Valse, Air, Intermezzo, Etude mélodique; a Cantata for one voice, with orchestral accom panlment; a Symphony for full orchestra, already performed in Rome, and at the festival of the Tonkünstler-Versammlung in Cologne."]

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