Giovanni Battista Somis

Giovanni Battista Somis ( born December 25, 1686, Turin, † August 14, 1763 ) was an Italian violinist and composer.

Life and work

Like his younger brother Giovanni Lorenzo Somis, he received his first musical instruction from his father Francesco Lorenzo Somis ( 1663-1736 ). Like his father, he became a member of the court orchestra of the Duke of Savoy in Turin. From 1703 to 1706 Somis was in Rome, where he new bowing techniques and the art of decorating learned from Arcangelo Corelli and deepened. From this time it of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni was well known, to whom he dedicated his Op.4. Travels took him to Novara and Sicily. He was repeatedly concerts at Prince of Carignan, so also in the Parisian residence. There Somis occurred in 1733 two times as soloist with the Concert spiritual. On his return to Turin, he became the first solo violinist in the court orchestra, which he remained until his death. He also remained the chapel of Prince Carignan be connected life long.

His most famous student was Jean -Marie Leclair, of Somis play in the French violin school earned. He also taught Gaspard Fritz, Jean -Pierre Guignon, Louis -Gabriel Guillemain, Pugnani and his nephew Carlo Chiabrano, all also made ​​a name for himself as a violinist and composer.

From Op.5 his compositions to characterize increasingly Agrémens by elements of the galant style and french ornaments.

His younger sister was the soprano and singing teacher Anne Antonia Christina Somis (1704-1785) and later wife of the French painter Charles André van LooBeide met in 1733 while staying in Turin kennen.Das couple had two children, the nephew of Somis, St. Mary's - Rosalie van Loo (1741-1762) and Jules Cesar Denis van Loo ( 1749-1821 ).

Works

In a presumably derived from his own pen raisonné 152 violin concertos are listed which have been lost to a large extent. Were published more than 80 Violin and trio sonatas, which are published by publishers in Turin, Paris and Amsterdam. Were printed the following works:

• Op.1 - 12 chamber sonatas for violin and basso continuo ( 1717 Amsterdam)
• Op.2 - 12 chamber sonatas for violin and basso continuo (1723 Torino )
• Op.3 - 12 chamber sonatas for violin and basso continuo ( 1725 Torino )
• Op.4 - 12 chamber sonatas for violin and basso continuo (1726 Paris)
• Op.5 - 6 Trio Sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (1733 Paris)
• Op.6 - 12 chamber sonatas for violin and basso continuo (1734 Paris)
• Op.7 - " idealization trattimenti da camera " for 2 violins, 2 flutes or viols (1750 Paris)
• Op.8 - 6 Trio Sonatas