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Brilliant Classics

Geminiani: Good Taste in the Art of Musick, Music for Violin

$12.99

Details

Composer
Francesco Geminiani
Artist
Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Solrun Franzdottir Wechner
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Oct 10, 2025
Catalog #
BRI97587
UPC
5028421975870

About

Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762), son of the violinist Giuliano Geminiani. After a season at the Teatro dei Fiorentini in Naples and a two-year spell at the Cappella Palatina in Lucca, Francesco left his homeland for good in 1714 to pursue a career in London, Dublin and Paris. The flourishing public concert life and optimal publishing conditions in London were attracting a great many Italian musicians, who were adored by the English public, achieving cult-like status - Arcangelo Corelli most of all. As a pupil of Corelli's, Geminiani inherited that legacy, while at the same time promoting an independent development in violin playing. Geminiani not only skilfully used the cult of Corelli and his own privileged position as an Italian musician to market himself; he also cultivated close contacts with powerful patrons, made a name for himself as an event organiser and painting dealer, and published several treatises. Among those, his The Art of Playing on the Violin, which he published at his own expense in 1751, was pioneering. He was responding to a pronounced culture of violin enthusiasts, whose great demand caused a proliferation of amateur schools and rudimentary music compendiums in England. Geminiani's treatise, however, was one of the first in Europe meeting professional standards. It differs significantly in scope and conception from other treatises of the mid-18th century from German-speaking countries, focusing intently on seeking the true nature of musical expression as the highest purpose of music. This is also reflected in the term 'Ornaments of Expression' coined by Geminiani to describe ornaments. He lists a rich selection of ornaments in another method, Treatise of good taste in the Art of Musick, published in 1749, designed to help the musician practise the art of ornamentation and variation. This treatise, along with his Rules for Playing in a true Taste published in 1746, include arrangements and variations based on well-known Scots tunes. The fashion of choosing simple folk songs as the basis for compositions was also utilised by other Italian composers in order to meet the needs and preferences of the English public. Geminiani's variations uniquely combine the Italian art of variation, inspired by the example of Arcangelo Corelli, with the simple grace of Scottish folk songs and ornamentation techniques developed under the influence of many years spent in Paris. The compositions contained in Geminiani's treatises go far beyond mere didactic use. His skilful, idiosyncratic use of harmony, rhythm and ornamentation tells the story of a highly trained, experimental and unconventional artist moving between nations and compositional styles. Other information: - Recorded April 2021 in Gartensaal, Germany - Bilingual booklet in English and German contains liner notes and profiles of the musicians - Francesco Saverio Geminiani was born in Lucca. He began his study at an early age with his father, but his most important lessons followed in his years with the great Roman Master, Arcangelo Corelli. Composition lessons with Alessandro Scarlatti helped inspire and solidify his craft. In 1714 Geminiani settled in London, where he quickly gained fame as an ensemble player, concert violinist, and teacher. Here he became friends with Handel and led the orchestra during many performances together. Geminiani enjoyed great success not only in London, but also in Ireland where he spent a considerable amount of time, settling in Dublin in 1760. - Geminiani's playing was distinguished by it's great expressiveness, richness of dynamic coloring, extraordinary liveliness, and a strong temperament. Tartini called Geminiani "il furibondo" - the furious one! - One of Geminiani's most enduring legacies is his treatise The Art of Playing on the Violin, published in 1751. This influential work is one of the earliest comprehensive guides on violin technique and interpretation. Unlike previous violin tutors, which often focused on basic fingering and bowing, Geminiani's treatise provided detailed insights into expressive playing, ornamentation, and the subtleties of articulation. It reflects the evolving style of violin playing in the 18th century, emphasizing musicality over mere technical proficiency. It covers topics such as bowing techniques, left-hand positioning, and vibrato, offering exercises to develop precision and expressiveness. He also stresses the importance of dynamic contrast and phrasing, essential elements in Baroque performance practice. - Played on period instruments by Anna Kaiser (violin), Johannes Berger (cello) and Solrun Franzdottir Wechner (harpsichord).

Tracklist 26 tracks

  1. 1 Essempio XIII - Affettuoso 02:50
    Track
    1
    Title
    Essempio XIII - Affettuoso
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  2. 2 Composizione VI - Allegro assai 02:03
    Track
    2
    Title
    Composizione VI - Allegro assai
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  3. 3 Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: I. Subject 01:02
    Track
    3
    Title
    Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: I. Subject
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  4. 4 Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: II. Cantabile 03:55
    Track
    4
    Title
    Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: II. Cantabile
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  5. 5 Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: III. Allegro 01:31
    Track
    5
    Title
    Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: III. Allegro
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  6. 6 Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: IV. Allegro Moderato 01:33
    Track
    6
    Title
    Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: IV. Allegro Moderato
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  7. 7 Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: V. Allegro 01:39
    Track
    7
    Title
    Ann Thou Were My Ain Thing: V. Allegro
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  8. 8 Auld Bob Morrice: I. Affettuoso 01:28
    Track
    8
    Title
    Auld Bob Morrice: I. Affettuoso
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  9. 9 Auld Bob Morrice: II. Allegro 01:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    Auld Bob Morrice: II. Allegro
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  10. 10 The Art of Playing on the Violin, Op. 9: 12 Compositions: Composizione V - Allegro assai 03:12
    Track
    10
    Title
    The Art of Playing on the Violin, Op. 9: 12 Compositions: Composizione V - Allegro assai
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner, Hwa-Jeong Lee
  11. 11 An Irish Tune: I. Subject 01:05
    Track
    11
    Title
    An Irish Tune: I. Subject
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  12. 12 An Irish Tune: II. Cantabile 04:05
    Track
    12
    Title
    An Irish Tune: II. Cantabile
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  13. 13 An Irish Tune: III. Allegro 01:20
    Track
    13
    Title
    An Irish Tune: III. Allegro
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  14. 14 An Irish Tune: IV. Presto 00:55
    Track
    14
    Title
    An Irish Tune: IV. Presto
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  15. 15 An Irish Tune: V. Andante 01:53
    Track
    15
    Title
    An Irish Tune: V. Andante
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  16. 16 An Irish Tune: VI. Presto. Legato E Sciolto 02:45
    Track
    16
    Title
    An Irish Tune: VI. Presto. Legato E Sciolto
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  17. 17 Lady Ann Bothwel's Lament: I. Affettuoso 01:46
    Track
    17
    Title
    Lady Ann Bothwel's Lament: I. Affettuoso
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner, Hwa-Jeong Lee
  18. 18 Lady Ann Bothwel's Lament: II. Allegro 02:41
    Track
    18
    Title
    Lady Ann Bothwel's Lament: II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner, Hwa-Jeong Lee
  19. 19 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: I. Subject 01:13
    Track
    19
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: I. Subject
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  20. 20 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: II. Cantabile 04:24
    Track
    20
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: II. Cantabile
    Duration
    04:24
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  21. 21 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: III. Allegro Moderato 01:55
    Track
    21
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: III. Allegro Moderato
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  22. 22 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: IV. Affettuoso 02:33
    Track
    22
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: IV. Affettuoso
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  23. 23 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: V. Allegro Moderato 01:27
    Track
    23
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: V. Allegro Moderato
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  24. 24 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: VI. Allegro 01:42
    Track
    24
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: VI. Allegro
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  25. 25 What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: VII. Affettuoso 03:05
    Track
    25
    Title
    What Shall I Do to Show How Much I Love Her: VII. Affettuoso
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner
  26. 26 A Treatise of Good Taste in the Art of Musick: Sleepy Body: I. Allegro Moderato 02:47
    Track
    26
    Title
    A Treatise of Good Taste in the Art of Musick: Sleepy Body: I. Allegro Moderato
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Francesco Geminiani
    Performer
    Anna Kaiser, Johannes Berger, Sólrún Franzdóttir Wechner