GEMINIA'NI, FRANCESCO, a distinguished composer and violin ist, was born at Lucca about 1680. The foundation of his professional knowledge was laid by Alessandro Scarlatti, but he completed his studies under Corelli. England was then, m now, the place of attrac tion for foreign musical talent, and Geminiani arrived in London in 1714, where his performance speedily gave him celebrity. He soon became acquainted with Baron Kilmansegge, chamberlain to George I. as Elector of Hanover, through whose means he was introduced to the king, and had the honour to perform before that sovereign some of his recently published Sonatas, for Violino, Violoue, a Cembnlo,' iu which Handel accompanied him on the harpsichord. Successful as he was professionally, his finances were continually in a disordered state, and to relieve his embarrassed circumstances he applied for the appointment of Composer of State Music in Ireland, and through the interest of the Earl of Essex was nominated to that good situation ; but finding a difficulty in taking the necessary oaths, the office was given to his pupil, Matthew Dubourg. Ile now set duwn industriously to compose, and published numerous works. Six of Corelli's solos and as many of that groat musician's sonatas he converted into concertos for a band, and in so efficient a manner, that some of them have retained their vitality almost to the present day. These were followed
by his own six orchestral concertos, Opera Terza,' and twelve sonatas for violin and base, all of which abound in beautiful melody, and evince his skill in harmony. His deep knowledge of harmony was further exhibited soon after, in his 'Guido Armouica,' a work which met with strong opposition among musicians of the old wheel, but was finally triumphant. But as the eneolumeuts arising from his many publications were by uo means commensurate to the thought and time necessarily bestowed on them, or to his expensive habits, his emcee sines still pursued him, and he bad recourse to a kind of benefit-con cert at Drury-Laue Theatre, by which he made a considerable sum. He then went to Paris, and there printed two sets of concertos. On his return to England lie continued composing and publishiug. In 1761 he paid a visit to his friend Dubourg in Dublin; but eoon after Ibis arrival in that city lie lost, through the treachery of a servant, a manuscript treatise on music, on which he had bestowed much time and labour, and on the snecess of which his hopes of future independ ence were founded. This he never recovered; and the circumstance so preyed on his mind, that we are told it shortened his life, though probably not by any long period, for he reached his eighty-third year. He died iu Dublin in 1762.