The minuet from the String Quintet in E major remains the most recognizable composition by Luigi Boccherini, an Italian musician whose career spanned several European courts. Born in 1743 in the Republic of Lucca, he functioned as a cellist, conductor, composer, and property master throughout his professional life, eventually dying in Madrid in 1805.
Early Development and Training
Luigi Boccherini was the third child of Leopoldo Boccherini, a double-bass player and cellist who provided his son with initial music lessons at age five. By the age of nine, he studied under Abbé Vanucci at San Martino. Following this, he moved to Rome at thirteen to refine his craft under Giovanni Battista Costanzi. In 1757, he and his father secured employment at the Burgtheater in Vienna.
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In 1768, Boccherini moved to Madrid, entering the service of Infante Luis Antonio of Spain in 1770. His tenure under the Infante proved highly productive, particularly during their time in Arenas de San Pedro and Candeleda. A noted dispute occurred when King Charles III disapproved of a specific passage in a new trio. Rather than revising the music as ordered, the composer doubled the passage, which resulted in his dismissal.
Compositional Legacy and Style
His output includes nearly one hundred string quartets, dozens of symphonies, and over one hundred string quintets for two cellos, a configuration he pioneered. His style reflects the Rococo period, incorporating lightness and rhythmic invention often influenced by Spanish guitar traditions. His cataloging was standardized by musicologist Yves Gérard, whose system introduced the G-number identifiers used for his scores.
Late Life and Commemoration
Boccherini experienced significant personal losses, including the deaths of both wives and four daughters between 1785 and 1804. Despite professional relationships with patrons like Lucien Bonaparte and King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, he faced hardship in his final years. Upon his death in 1805, he was buried in Madrid until his remains were moved to the church of San Francesco in Lucca in 1927.
Fast facts
- Born: 1743, Lucca
- Died: 1805, Madrid
- Occupations: Composer, cellist, conductor, property master
- Notable work: Symphony Op. 12 No. 4
- Citizenship: Republic of Lucca
- Cataloger: Yves Gérard
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the 'G' numbers assigned to his works?
The numbers refer to the catalog created by French musicologist Yves Gérard, published in London in 1969.
Did Boccherini play any instruments other than the cello?
Yes, he was also a classical pianist and possessed the skill to play violin repertoire on the cello while touring.
Achievements
- Notable work: String Quintet in E major
- Notable work: Symphony Op. 12 No. 4 (Boccherini)
- Instruments: cello
- Genres: classical music
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