Achille Simonetti
Achille Simonetti was a prominent Italian violinist and composer, mainly resident in England and Ireland. He was mainly known as a chamber musician and teacher.
Life
Born in Turin on 12 June 1857, Simonetti left his family in Bologna and completed his studies under Francesco Bianchi, Eugenio Cavallini, Giuseppe Gamba, Charles Dancla, and Camillo Sivori, the last pupil of Niccolo Paganini.Simonetti died aged 71 in London on 19 November 1928.
Career
Simonetti came to England in 1891, embarking on a career as chamber musician. He became part of the first London Trio, an endeavour which occupied him from 1901 to 1912, along with cellist William Whitehouse and pianist Amina Goodwin.From 1912 to 1919, he was a professor of violin at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and served as a teacher for many distinguished violinists, including Walter Starkie.
Simonetti was also an early champion of the Brahms Violin Concerto, and wrote a cadenza for the work.
Selected compositions
;OrchestralRonde joyeuse for string orchestraSérénade for string orchestraMeditazione for small orchestra;Chamber musicAllegretto Romantico in D minor for viola and piano Andante mélancolique for violin and pianoBallata in C minor for viola and piano Berceuse for violin and pianoCanzonetta for violin and pianoCapriccio for violin and pianoCavatina for cello and pianoElegia for cello and pianoFurlana, Italian Dance for violin and pianoMadrigale in D major for violin and piano - wrote text and music? - music has been set to this by Pietro Floridia.Mazurka for violin and pianoMinuetto for violin and pianoNotturnino for violin and pianoRêverie for violin and pianoRomanza for violin and pianoRomanzetta for violin and piano
- Sonata No. 2, Op. 9, for violin and piano in C major Scènes montagnardes, Op. 12, for violin and piano
- String Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 14
- String Quartet No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 16