Joseph Abaco

Belgian violoncellist, composer

Joseph Abaco (full name Joseph (Giuseppe) Marie Clément Ferdinand dall'Abaco) (27 March 1710 – 31 August 1805) was an Italian violoncellist and composer. He was born and baptised in Brussels, the capital of the Spanish Netherlands, on 27 March 1710, and was musically trained by his father, Evaristo Felice dall'Abaco.

At age nineteen Abaco entered into the service of the Prince-elector of Cologne at Bonn and played in the court chamber orchestra. He was appointed its music director in 1738. He traveled to England in 1740. In 1753 he moved to Verona, in the Republic of Venice, where he worked as a member of the Philharmonic Academy. In 1766 he was given the title of baron by Prince Maximilian of Bavaria.

Abaco wrote nearly 40 cello sonatas, the 11 Capricci for Violoncello Solo, and other works. Many of his compositions were written in an old-fashioned, Baroque style, despite himself living a very long life well into the Classical era.

Abaco died at his estate, Arbizzano di Valpolicella, Napoleonic Italy, near Verona, at the age of 95, on 31 August 1805.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.

Works

11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 1 in C minor
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 10 in A major
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 11 in F major
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 2 in G minor
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 3 in E-flat major
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 4 in D minor
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 5 in B major
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 6 in E minor
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 7 in B major
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 8 in G major
11 Caprices for Violoncello Solo: No. 9 in C major
Sonata VII in C major, ABV 18
Sonata VII in C major, ABV 18: I. Allegro
Sonata VII in C major, ABV 18: II. Andantino
Sonata VII in C major, ABV 18: III. Allegro. La Zampogna
Sonata VIII in G major, ABV 19
Sonata VIII in G major, ABV 19: I. Allegro
Sonata VIII in G major, ABV 19: II. Grave
Sonata VIII in G major, ABV 19: III. Giga. Allegro
Sonata in A major, ABV 30
Sonata in A major, ABV 30: I. Andante
Sonata in A major, ABV 30: II. Allegro moderato
Sonata in A major, ABV 30: III. Aria, adagio
Sonata in A major, ABV 30: IV. Rondeau. Allegro assai
Sonata in A major, ABV 30: V. Minuetto
Sonata in C minor, ABV 32
Sonata in C minor, ABV 32: I. Allegro
Sonata in C minor, ABV 32: II. Adagio
Sonata in C minor, ABV 32: III. Rondeau
Sonata in D minor, ABV 35
Sonata in D minor, ABV 35: I. Andantino
Sonata in D minor, ABV 35: II. Allegro
Sonata in D minor, ABV 35: III. A modo di Viola da gamba
Sonata in D minor, ABV 35: IV. Arpeggiato a modo d’Arciliuto