Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Nationality: Italian | Spanish

Born: February 19, 1743, Lucca Died: May 28, 1805, Madrid (age 62)

wikipedia | imslp

Guitar Quintet in C major, G.453

(for guitar, 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Allegro maestoso assai
		II.	Andantino
		III.	Allegretto
		IV.	Ritirata "Retraite de Madrid" avec variations

Composed: 1798 (age 54-55)

Related Composers

Giovanni Battista Costanzi (1704-1778)

Teacher

Nationality: Italian

Born: September 3, 1704, Rome Died: March 5, 1778, Rome (age 73)

glossary

allegretto—moderately quick tempo. slower than allegro but faster than andante
allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andantino—faster than andante, slower than allegretto. Sometimes andantino is interpreted as the opposite: slower than andante
assai—very much. Intensifies the direction of its neighboring words, e.g. "allegro assai", very fast
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
maestoso—With dignity and nobility; majestic
quintet, quintette [F], quintett [G], quintetto [I]—an ensemble / work for 5 players, the typical examples being string quintet (with second viola or cello), piano quintet or woodwind quintet
tema con variazioni, con variazioni, Tema e variazioni, theme and variations, Thema mit Variationen [G], Thème varié [F]—a common movement form featuring an initial theme followed by a series of variations on that theme, each of which adjusts any number of parameters to achieve variety, e.g. tempo, rhythm, key, instrumentation, etc.A challenge to the composers ingenuity and a delight for the listener
variation, variazione, variatio, variato, variata—a modified re-iteration of a previous theme, reprise, couplet, etc. The music is varied, embellished or creatively transformed for variety while maintaining a unity relationship with the original. See "Theme and Variations."