Francesco Corbetta
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Francesco Corbetta | |
|---|---|
 Francesco Corbetta by van den Berghe colored | |
| Born | ca. 1615 |
| Died | 1681 |
| Citizenship | French |
| Occupations | composer, teacher, |
| Era | Baroque |
| Notable work | La Guitarre Royalle |
Francesco Corbetta (ca. 1615 – 1681, in French also Francisque Corbette) was an Italian guitar virtuoso, teacher and composer. Along with his compatriots Giovanni Paolo Foscarini and Angelo Michele Bartolotti, he was a pioneer and exponent of the combination of strummed and plucked textures referred to today as "mixed" style.
Early life and education
Corbetta's obituary, probably written by his fellow guitarist Rémy Médard, says that he showed a strong inclination for the guitar at an early age, and pursued it over the strong objections of his parents.[1] In the Italian preface to his 1671 La Guitarre Royalle, he claims that he was self-taught on the guitar, and also that he had never played the lute (unlike most celebrated guitarists of his day).[2]
Professional career
Corbetta spent his early career in Italy.[3] He seems to have worked as a teacher in Bologna where the guitarist and composer Giovanni Battista Granata was one of his pupils.[2] He was then attached to the Court of Carlo II, Duke of Mantua in various capacities. He was however frequently granted leave of absence and traveled abroad to Spain probably between 1644-1647 where he amazed the Court in Madrid with his virtuosity; to Germany where he was in the employ of the dukes of Hanover and the Spanish Netherlands, dedicating his fourth book, Varii scherzi di sonate to the governor, the Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. According to his obituary, the Duke of Mantua recommended him to Louis XIV; although some sources claim that he taught Louis the guitar this is unlikely as the post is known to have been held by Bernard Jourdan de La Salle from 1650 when Louis was 12 years of age until 1695.[4] Although Corbetta may have visited Paris earlier he probably did not settle there before 1654. In 1656 he took part in the ballet "La galanterie du temps" by Jean-Baptiste Lully.[5] He came to the attention of the English King Charles II in exile and at the Restoration accompanied him to London. During the last 20 years of his life he divided his time between London and Paris. He is regarded as one of the greatest virtuosos of the Baroque guitar.
Gambling activities
While living in England, Corbetta supplemented his income as a musician with his activities as a professional gambler, particularly by operating a game called “L’accia di Catalonia,” which was similar to roulette. He may have exploited his friendship with Charles II to get started in this business; in 1661 the king awarded him a monopoly on the game. A number of other gamblers attempted to infringe on his monopoly, and he eventually ceded his rights to the game to certain of them in return for a share of their profits, but he was later accused of continuing to operate the game without a license. Partly as a result of the ensuing and conflicting claims, Charles revoked almost all licenses for games of chance in 1664.[6]
