Nicola Matteis ( Italian: Nicola Matteis , Naples , until 1670 - Kolkirk (?)), After 1714 ) - Italian violinist , guitarist and composer, one of the largest concert musicians in Great Britain of the Baroque era.
| Nicola Matthews ital. Nicola matteis | |
|---|---|
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| basic information | |
| Date of Birth | until 1670 |
| Place of Birth | Naples (?) |
| Date of death | after 1714 |
| A place of death | Kolkirk (?) |
| A country |  Kingdom of neapolitan  United Kingdom |
| Professions | violinist , composer |
| Years of activity | 1682 - 1714 |
| Instruments | violin , guitar |
| Genres | chamber instrumental music |
Content
- 1 Biography
- 2 notes
- 3 Literature
- 4 References
Biography
The fact that Matthews was born in Naples can be assumed from the headings of his writings, where he often calls himself "Neapolitan" ('Napolitano'). There are references that for a long time he traveled to Germany , while he was in extremely constrained material circumstances [1] . He probably arrived in London after 1670 , but until 1674 (when he was already widely known) and immediately attracted attention as a violin performer. Contemporaries noted his extraordinary technique and depth of sound. Statements by contemporaries have been preserved that when he played, it seemed as if not one but several violins sounded, while the very sound of the instrument was similar to the sound of a human voice [2] . As a composer, he was known for meticulousness in prescribing melody ( ornamentation ) in notes of musical ornaments, the degree of sound volume, its timbre , which was not characteristic of the Baroque era. Mattheis was the undisputed authority in the musical world of England at the end of the 17th century ; his concerts in London enjoyed great commercial success.
Around 1700, he married a wealthy widow and apparently ended his career as a concert violinist, subsequently only writing. It is known that he maintained a large house and lived regardless of the amount of expenses. His sons Nicola and John Nicola were later widely known as concert violinists. It is possible that it was significant expenses that led to a miserable ending [3] . Mattheis died in poverty, suffering from serious illnesses.
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Notes
- ↑ North: “I remember no Italians till Nicola came, and he lay obscurely in the city; by the favorite of a merchant whom he had converted to his profit; his circumstances were low, and it was say'd that he traveled thro 'Germany on foot with his violin under a full coat at his back. But his pride and arrogance was incomparable, and if he had not found that easy merchant, he had starved before he could have bin known. He was brought to play afore the King and divers great person, in order to be pensioned, but his manner did not take. Roger L'Estrange, an exquisite violist, Sr Wm Waldgrave, that did wonders upon the archlieute, and Mr Bridgman, that dealt a thro-base upon an harpsichord, found him out to be a superlative genius, But they were forced with all their eloquence to charme him into a complaisance with the English humor, which was to be easy; free, and familiar, and to let gentlemen, not the best hands, have his company in consorts. ”North's remarks regarding Matteis are in his manuscript Essay of Musicall Ayre (British Library Add. Mss 325360) and in North's Memoirs of Music (ed Rimbault, London, 1846) and The Musicall Grammarian (ed. Andres 1925) (Timouth 1960)
- ↑ Evelyn, Diary , sv 129 November 1674.
- ↑ North: “He began to feel himself grow rich, and then of course luxurious. He took a great house, and lived as one that was marryed, had a child ... contracted bad diseases ... excess of pleasure threw him into a dropsyes, and so he became poor. And dyed miserable. "
Literature
- Bukofzer, Manfred F. Music In The Baroque Era - From Monteverdi To Bach (2007) Von Elterlein Press. ISBN 1-4067-3933-2 .
- Diccionario Biográfico de la Música , Ricart Matas, Editorial Iberia, 1980, ISBN 84-7082-147-7
- Diccionario Oxford de la Música , Percy A. Scholes, Oxford University Press, 1938, 1953, 1970. Edhasa Ed., 1984, ISBN 84-350-9018-3
- Haynes, Bruce. The End of Early Music: A Period Performer's History of Music for the Twenty-First Century (2007) Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-518987-6 .
- Music In The Baroque Era - From Monteverdi To Bach , Manfred F. Bukofzer, Von Elterlein Press, 2007. ISBN 1406739332 .
- The End of Early Music: A Period Performer's History of Music for the Twenty-First Century , Bruce Haynes, Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 0195189876 .
Links
- Mattheis, Nicola: sheet music at International Music Score Library Project
- Nicola Matteis, a short biography in English. language (inaccessible link)
- Nicola Matteis. Selected essays on YouTube.
- Nicola Matteis. Discography.