Giuseppe Tartini

Tartini, Giuseppe (b Pirano, Istria, 1692; d Padua, 1770). It. violinist, composer, teacher, and inventor. Fled from Padua 1710 because of disapproval of his marriage. Took refuge in monastery at Assisi where he studied comp. and acoustics, invented new vn. bow, and gave vn. recitals. Returned to Padua, forgiven, 1715. Played as orch. violinist; became first vn. at Cappella del Santo, Padua, 1721–3. Kapellmeister of Count Kinsky's band, Prague, 1723–5, playing also in Vienna. On return to Padua founded, 1728, school of vn.-playing , becoming known as ‘Master of Nations’ and numbering many subsequently celebrated violinists among his pupils. Was teaching up to 1768. Discovered resultant tones, which he then called terzo suono (3rd sound), though it was left to Helmholtz to explain them years later. Wrote several treatises and comp. some religious vocal mus. and canzone in addition to 42 vn. sonatas, 12 sonatas for vn. and vc., 135 vn. concs., vc. concs., and concs. for other instr. incl. cls., obs., and tpt. Celebrated ‘Devil's Trill’ sonata was almost certainly composed after 1745, but no autograph exists.

Giuseppe Tartini , 1692-1770, Italian violinist, the greatest violin master of his day. In 1728 he founded at Padua a school of the violin that became known throughout Europe. Tartini altered the shape of the bow, revised bowing technique, and was probably the first to discover the difference tone (see tone ), which became a means of securing just intonation. He wrote a number of theoretical works and composed an estimated 150 violin concertos, many trio sonatas, and about 200 solo sonatas, among which The Devil's Trill, supposedly played to him by the devil in a dream, is the most famous.