William Corbett (composer)
William Corbett (* around 1680 in London ; † March 7, 1748 there ) was an English composer and violinist of the Baroque .
Life
William Corbett was a violinist and composer at the New Theater in London (Lincoln's Inn Fields) as early as 1700. From 1705, Corbett was director of the King's Theater . In 1709 he became a member of the Royal Orchestra . In 1716 he became Kapellmeister of the King's Band . Between 1715 and 1726 he often lived for long periods of time in various Italian cities in order to familiarize himself with music, but especially with Italian opera, which, in contrast to English opera, which contained spoken scenes, was sung continuously (all sung opera) .
Corbett was able to bring together an important collection of valuable violins, including instruments by Jakob Stainer , Antonio Stradivari , Nicola Amati , Giovanni Paolo Maggini and Gasparo da Salò , as well as other music and paintings. A violin by Matthias Alban is said to have belonged to Arcangelo Corelli . During his lifetime, Corbett was already suspected of being able to raise so many funds for the English court through spying. Numerous dedications in his concerts to the high nobility reinforced this suspicion. Corbett organized numerous benefit concerts , some with very rare instruments such as the viola d'amore or the viol de venere , with the announcement or with the note " with instruments never heard in public ".
Works (selection)
His most important works are the effective Concerti grossi Le Bizzarie Universali op.8 , in which he parodies various regional or national styles, such as alla Francese, alla Bergamasca, alla Turinese, alla Spagniola, al 'Irlandese and more.
Vocal works:
- Henry VI. Libretto by Betterton (1699)
- As You Find It (1703)
- Love Betrayed, or The Agreeable Disappointment (1703)
- British Enchanters, or No Magick Like Love (1706)
- Lost is My Love cantata with orchestra op.7 (1725)
Instrumental works:
- Twelve Sonatas a tre for 2 violins and bc op. 1 (1700)
- The Instrumental Musick for January, February and March , for 2 flutes and bc (1703)
- Six Sonatas for 2 flutes and bc op.2 (1705)
- Le Bizzarie Universali in Four Parts op.8 (2 violins, viola and bc) (1728)
- 35 Concerti Le Bizzarie Universali in Seven Parts, op.8 in adaptation as Concerti grossi (1742)
Web links
- Sheet music and audio files by William Corbett (composer) in the International Music Score Library Project
Individual evidence
- ^ Fétis biography universelle des musiciens et bibliographie génèrale de la musique (1861)
- ^ William-Corbett on Answers.com
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Corbett, William |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Corbet, William |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English violinist and Baroque composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1680 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 7, 1748 |
| Place of death | London |