BOCCHERINI, LUIGI. – Musician, born in Lucca on 19 Sept. 1743, died in Madrid on 28 May 1805. He first studied in the seminary at Lucca with Abbot Vanucci, then in Rome. On returning to his native city, he left it to go to Spain, and during his journey through Italy he enjoyed great success as a concert performer and composer. In Madrid (1769) he became composer and chamber virtuoso to the Infante Don Luigi. He also worked extensively for King Frederick William of Prussia. He longed to return to Paris, but poverty prevented him. In 1927 his remains were brought to Lucca and interred in the church of S. Francesco.
His sacred output, though not as extensive as his rich corpus of instrumental works, is made famous by certain masterpieces which, like the Stabat Mater for three voices with two violins, viola, violoncello and double bass (op. 61), suffice to bring glory to a name and to signify a style. This work,
composed in 1800 and called the “swan-song,” is marked by classical purity and at the same time by a pathetic colouring that aligns it more closely with the style of Pergolesi than of Rossini. In his early years at Lucca, B. also turned to oratorio with *Giuseppe riconosciuto* and *Gioas re di Giuda*, performed in 1764; unfortunately, no trace of these survives. Instead, preserved are a Mass for four voices with obbligato instruments (op. 59, unpublished), and a Cantata for the Holy Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ for four obbligato voices, chorus and instruments, dedicated to the Emperor of Russia (op. 63 [1803], unpublished). Recently rediscovered are: a Credo for four voices with orchestra (Parma, Biblioteca Palatina), four motets and fragments of Masses (Einsiedeln), as well as four sacred songs (noted by Eitner). Besides the 1801 edition of the Stabat Mater (Naples, G. Amiconi), there are three modern editions: Florence, Guidi; Milan; Rionero; Leipzig; Breitkopf & Härtel.