Role

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Composer

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Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

Giovanni Lorenzo Somis was an Italian composer and violinist who lived from 1686 to 1761. He was born in Turin, Italy, and began his musical studies at a young age. His father, Giuseppe Somis, was a violinist and composer, and he likely played a significant role in his son's musical education. Somis studied violin with Giovanni Battista Vitali in Modena and later with Arcangelo Corelli in Rome. He also studied composition with Alessandro Scarlatti in Naples. These experiences helped to shape his musical style and technique, and he became known for his virtuosic violin playing and his skill as a composer. Somis began his career as a violinist in the court of the Duke of Savoy in Turin. He later served as the concertmaster of the orchestra at the Basilica di Superga in Turin, where he worked alongside the composer and conductor Antonio Vivaldi. Somis also performed in the orchestra of the Teatro Regio in Turin, which was one of the most prestigious opera houses in Italy at the time. Somis composed a significant amount of music during his lifetime, including sonatas, concertos, and chamber music. His works were influenced by the Baroque style of his time, but he also incorporated elements of the emerging Classical style. His music was known for its technical difficulty and its expressive qualities, and it was highly regarded by his contemporaries. One of Somis's most famous works is his set of twelve violin sonatas, which were published in 1723. These sonatas are notable for their virtuosic violin writing and their use of counterpoint and harmonic complexity. They were highly influential in the development of the violin sonata as a genre, and they continue to be performed and studied by violinists today. Somis also composed a number of concertos for violin and orchestra, including his Concerto in E minor, which is considered one of his most important works. This concerto features a solo violin part that is highly virtuosic and expressive, and it showcases Somis's skill as a composer and a violinist. In addition to his instrumental music, Somis also composed vocal music, including a number of cantatas and oratorios. His oratorio La Passione di Gesù Cristo was particularly well-received, and it was performed in Turin in 1730 to great acclaim. Somis's music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered one of the leading composers and violinists of his time. His influence can be seen in the works of later composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Despite his success as a composer and performer, Somis remained relatively unknown outside of Italy during his lifetime. It was not until the 20th century that his music began to receive more widespread recognition and appreciation. Today, Somis is remembered as one of the most important composers and violinists of the Baroque era. His music continues to be performed and studied by musicians around the world, and his legacy as a composer and performer remains an important part of the history of classical music.

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