A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Albinoni, Tomasso

ALBINONI, Tomasso, dramatic composer and violinist. Born at Venice in the latter half of the 17th century. The particulars of his life are entirely unknown. He wrote forty-two operas (the first of which appeared in 1694), which are said to have been successful from the novelty of their style, though a modern French critic describes the ideas as trivial and the music as dry and unsuited to the words. Greater talent is to be seen in his instrumental works, concertos, sonatas, and songs. He was also an excellent performer on the violin. Albinoni's sole interest for modern times resides in the fact that the great Bach selected themes from his works, as he did from those of Corelli and Legrenzi. 'Bach,' says Spitta (i. 423), 'must have been peculiarly partial to Albinoni. Down to a late period of his life he was accustomed to use bass parts of his for practice in thorough-bass, and Gerber relates that he had heard his father (a pupil of Bach's) vary these very basses in his master's style with astonishing beauty and skill.' Two fugues of the great Master's are known to be founded on themes of Albinoni's—both from his 'Opera prima.' One (in A) is to be found at No. 10 of Cahier 13 of Peter's edition of Bach's clavier-works; the other (in F♯ minor) at No. 5 of Cahier 3 of the same edition. For further particulars see Spitta, i. 423-426.

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