Veracini, Antonio

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Veracini, Antonio

Veracini, Antonio, esteemed Italian violinist, teacher, and composer, uncle of Francesco Maria Veracini; b. Florence, Jan. 17,1659; d. there, Oct. 26,1733. His father, Francesco di Niccolo, was a gifted violinist, and he most likely received his initial training from him and appeared with him as a youth. Antonio Veracini was in the service of Grand Duchess Vittoria of Tuscany (1682-94). From 1700 he served as maestro di cappella at the church of S. Michele and also was active at other Florentine churches; in 1708 he took over his father’s music school, where he was mentor to his nephew. His extant works are (10) Sonate a trefor 2 Violins, Violone or Archlute, and Basso Continuo, op.l (Florence, 1692), (10) Sonate da camerafor Violin, op.2 (Modena, c. 1694), and (10) Sonate da camera a duefor Violin, Violone or Archlute, and Basso Continuo, op.3 (Modena, 1696).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire