, a fine performer on the violin, and composer for tfctat instrument,
, a fine performer on the violin,
and composer for tfctat instrument, was born at Lucca in
Italy, about 1666. He received his first instructions in music
from Lonati and Scarlatti, but finished his studies under
Corelli. In 1714, he came to England; and, two years
after, published twelve sonatas, “a Violino, Violone, e
Cembalo.
” These, together with his exquisite manner of
performing, had such an effect, that he was at length introduced to George I. who had expressed a desire to hear
some of the pieces, contained in this work performed by
himself. Geiuiniani wished, however, that he might be
accompanied on the harpsichord by Handel; and both accordingly attended at St. James’s. The earl of Essex,
being a lover of music, became a patron of Geminiani:
and, in 1727, procured him the offer of the place of master
and composer of the state music in Ireland: but this,
not being tenable by one of the Romish communion, he
declined; saying, that, though he had never made great
pretensions to religion, yet the renouncing that faith in
which he had been baptized, for the sake of worldly advantage, was what he could not answer to his conscience. He
afterwards composed Corelli’s solos into concertos; he
published six concertos of his own composition, and many
other things. The life of this musician appears to have
been very unsettled; spent in different countries, for he
was fond of making excursions; and employed in pursuits
which had no connection with his art. He was, particularly, a violent enthusiast in painting; and, to gratify this
propensity, bought pictures; which, to supply his wants,
he afterwards sold. The consequence of this kind of
traffic was loss, and its concomitant distress: which distress
was so extreme, that he was committed to, and would
have remained in prison, if a protection from his patron
the earl of Essex had not delivered him. Yet his spirit
was such, that when the prince of Wales, who admired his
compositions, would have settled upon him a pension of
100l. a year, he declined the offer, affecting an aversion to
a life of dependence.
d. His son Thomas, who was placed under Nardini at Florence, the celebrated disciple of Tartini, was a fine performer on the violin, with a talent for composition,
, an eminent mnsic professor and organist, long resident at Bath, where he had served an apprenticeship under Chilcot, the organist of that city, was a
studious man, equally versed in the theory and practice
of his art. Having a large family of children, in whom he
found the seeds of genius had been planted by nature, and
the gift of voice, in order to cultivate this, he pointed
his studies to singing, and became the best singing-master
of his time, if we may judge by the specimens of “his
success in his own family. He was not only a masterly
player on the organ and harpsichord, but a good composer,
as his elegies and several compositions for Drury-lane
theatre evinced. His son Thomas, who was placed under
Nardini at Florence, the celebrated disciple of Tartini,
was a fine performer on the violin, with a talent for composition, which, if he had lived to develope, would have
given longevity to his fame. Being at Grimsthorpe, in
Lincolnshire, at the seat of the duke of Ancaster, where
he often amused himself in rowing, fishing, and sailing in a
boat on a piece of water, in a squall of wind, or by some accident, the boat was overset, and this amiable and promising
youth was drowned at an early age, to the great affliction
of his family and friends, particularly his matchless sister,
Mrs. Sheridan, whom this calamity rendered miserable for
a long time; during which, her affection and grief appeared in verses of the most sweet and affecting kind on
the sorrowful event. The beauty, talents, and mental
endowments of this
” Sancta Caecilia rediviva," will be
remembered to the last hour of all who heard, or even saw
and conversed with her. The tone of her voice and expressive manner of singing were as enchanting as her
countenance and conversation. In her singing, with a
mellifluous-toned voice, a perfect shake and intonation,
she was possessed of the double power of delighting an
audience equally in pathetic strains and songs of brilliant
execution, which is allowed to very tew singers. When
she had heard the Agujari and the Danzi, afterwards madame le Brun, she astonished all hearers by performing
their bravura airs, extending the natural compass of her
voice a fourth above the highest note of the harpsichord,
before additional keys were in fashion. Mrs. Sheridan
died at Bristol in 1792.