Donizetti, Giuseppe

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Donizetti, Giuseppe

Donizetti, Giuseppe, Italian bandmaster and composer, brother of (Domenico) Gaetano (Maria) Donizetti; b. Bergamo, Nov. 9,1788; d. Constantinople, Feb. 10,1856. In 1832 he was summoned by the sultan of Turkey to take charge of Turkish military bands. He accepted, and successfully accomplished the task of introducing Western instruments and modernizing the repertoire. The sultan richly rewarded him with honors and money, and Donizetti remained in Constantinople to the end of his life.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire