François de Fossa

François de Fossa (also: Francesc de Paula de Fossa, born August 31, 1775 in Perpignan, † June 3, 1849 in Paris) was a French officer, composer and guitarist.

Military career

De Fossa initially served in the Légion des Pyrénées, took over administrative duties in Spain, traveled to Mexico (1798-1803), was then re- stationed in Spain and fled in 1813 with the Napoleonic troops from Spain to France. Until his retirement (1844 ) he still took the campaign in Catalonia (1823 ), most recently as a battalion commander, and the war against Algeria ( 1830) part. In 1825 he was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour.

Musical ambitions

Like his contemporaries Fernando Sor and Federico Moretti also de Fossa was intensely occupied during his military service with the guitar. In a letter of 9 March 1808 on his sister, he even describes his short-term ambitions for a professional music career. He was close friends with the guitar Dionisio Aguado, whose guitar school he translated into French. His compositions are evidence of high virtuosity and profound compositional skills. Stylistically de Fossas is obliged Music of the Italian style, influenced by the music of Luigi Boccherini. In addition to his own compositions, he published a series of popular transcriptions of classical works, including nine " Grand Duo " after string quartets by Joseph Haydn.

Compositions (selection )

  • La tyrolean traverse, op 1
  • Première Fantaisie, Op 5 (guitar solo)
  • Cinquième Fantaisie sur l'air de Folies d' Espagne, Op 12 (guitar solo)
  • Quatre Divertissement, Op 13 (guitar solo)
  • Trois Trios Concert Antes op 18 (violin, cello, guitar )
  • Trois Quatours op 19 ( 2 guitars, violin, cello )
  • Trois Grand Duos for works of Haydn.

Edits (selection)

  • Ouverture du Jeune Henri de Mehul ( 2 guitars )

References

  • Matanya Ophee: Luigi Boccherini 's Guitar Quintet - New Evidence - To Which is added, for the first time, a reliable biography of François de Fossa, his portrait, and a checklist of his Compositions know. Editions Orphée, ISBN 0-936186-06-2 ( Engl )
Dionisio Aguado y García Integrated Authority File
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