Presents
Luigi Tomasini
String Trio in e minor for 2 Violins and Cello, Kor.34
Luigi Tomasini (1741–1808) was born in the Italian town of Pesaro where he first studied violin. He was hired as a violinist for the famous Esterházy orchestra of Eisenstadt in 1757. Recognizing the young man's talent, Prince Esterhazy sent Tomasini back to Italy to further his violin studies. It is thought that he briefly took lessons from the famous Venetian virtuosa and Vivaldi student Maria Anna della Pieta. Some sources also indicate that he traveled to Padua where had lessons from Tartini. By the time Haydn was engaged as director of the Esterhazy orchestra in 1761, Tomasini was already back in Eisenstadt and serving as concertmaster of the orchestra. Some sources indicate that Tomasini took composition lessons from Haydn. In any event, the two men worked together for 30 years and Haydn wrote at least one of his violin concerti for Tomasini, who was also a composer in his own right. The two were friends and often played quartets together with Tomasini on first violin and Haydn on second. Most of Tomasini's compositions are either for the violin or are chamber music, including more than 30 string quartets and 25 trios for Baryton, Violin and Cello. The Baryton, with six strings and a fretted fingerboard is like a bass viol, and was Prince Esterhazy's own instrument, hence both Haydn and Tomasini were asked by the Prince to compose chamber works for it.
The String Trio in e minor, Kor.34 is one of several that Tomasini or his publisher arranged for 2 violins and cello so that they could reach a wider audience. It was inevitable that Tomasini's music would show the influence of Haydn and the Trio in e minor, one of the few not in the major, has many similarities to the music of Haydn from the late 1760's, when the trio was composed. One can hear the so called Sturm und Drang style then popular in the first movement, very similar to what one finds in Haydn's symphonies from the period.
This well written work is historically interesting but good in its own right. Out of print for many years, we are pleased to make it available once again.
Parts: $15.95
Parts & Score: $19.95
