(b Livorno, ?13 Feb 1746; d ?Paris, 1825). Italian composer and violinist. He performed at the Paris Concert Spirituel in 1773 and soon achieved great popularity as an instrumental composer, publishing over 500 works. He was also active in Parisian theatres, writing some 14 stage works in addition to oratorios and other vocal music. During the Revolution he composed popular hymns and odes; his career declined after 1800. Foremost in his output are over 150 string quartets (1773-1809) and over 80 symphonies concertantes, fluently written in the tuneful and brilliant French idiom of the time. His other instrumental music includes concertos, string quintets, trios, duos and sonatas, many for strings.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.