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Luigi Boccherini (February 19, 1743 – May
28, 1805) was a classical music era|classical era
composer and cello|cellist from Italy, mostly
known for one particular minuet from one of his
string quintets, and the Cello Concerto No. 9
(Boccherini)|cello concerto in B flat major (G
482). This last work was long known in the heavily
altered version by German cellist and prolific
arranger Friedrich Grützmacher, but has recently
been restored to its original version.

Boccherini was born in Lucca, Italy, in a musical
family. At a young age his father, a cellist and
double bass player, sent Luigi to study in Rome
(1757), and after various concert tours, his
talents eventually brought him to the Spanish
court in Madrid, where he was employed by Don
Luis, the younger brother of King Charles III.
There he flourished under royal patronage, until
one day when the King expressed his disapproval at
a passage in a new trio, and ordered Boccherini to
change it. The composer, no doubt irritated with
this intrusion into his art, doubled the passage
instead, leading to his immediate dismissal. 

Among his patrons was the French consul Lucien
Bonaparte, as well as King Friedrich Wilhelm II of
Prussia, himself an amateur cellist, flutist, and
avid supporter of the arts. Boccherini fell on
hard times following the deaths of his Spanish
patron, two wives, and two daughters, and he died
in poverty in 1805, being survived by two sons.
His blood line continues to this day.

Boccherini is sometimes referred to as the "wife
of Haydn", because much of his chamber music
closely resembles the Austrian master's. However,
Boccherini is often credited with improving
Haydn's model of the string quartet by bringing
the cello to prominence, whereas Haydn had always
relegated it to an accompaniment role. 

A virtuoso cellist of the first caliber (possibly
the most accomplished cellist in history),
Boccherini often played violin repertoire on the
cello, at Pitch (music)|pitch, a skill he
developed by substituting for ailing violonists
while touring. This supreme command of the
instrument brought him much praise from his
contemporaries (notably Baillot, Rode, and Andreas
Romberg|Romberg), and is evident in the cello
parts of his compositions (particularly in the
quintets for two cellos, treated oftentimes as
cello concertos with string quartet
accompaniment). 

He wrote a large amount of chamber music,
including over one hundred string quintets for two
violins, viola and two cellos (a type which he
pioneered, in contrast with the then common
scoring for two violins, two violas and one
cello), nearly a hundred string quartets, and a
number of string trios and sonatas (including at
least 19 for the cello), as well as a series of
guitar quintets. His orchestral music includes
around 30 symphonies and 12 virtuoso cello
concertos.

Boccherini's works have been catalogued by the
French people|French musicologist Yves Gérard
(born 1932), published in London (1969), hence the
"G" numbers for his output.

Boccherini's style is characterized by the typical
Rococo charm, lightness, and optimism, and
exhibits much melodic and rhythmic invention,
coupled with frequent influences from the guitar
tradition of his adopted country, Spain. Unjustly
neglected, his works have been gaining more
recognition lately, in print, record, and concert
hall. 

See also List of string quartets by Luigi
Boccherini

== External links ==

*http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/boccherin
i.html Classical Net
*http://www.classicalarchives.com/bios/boccherini_
bio.html Classical Music Archives
*http://www.angelfire.com/wi/boccherini/ Luigi
Boccherini 1743-1805