Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer (1692-1766)
- Concertino (V, f-moll) des 'VI Concerti armonici a quattro violini
obligati, alto viola, violoncello obligato e basso continuo' (1740)
Performers: Barocco Boreale ensemble
---
Dutch composer and statesman. He was born into one of the oldest and
most influential families of the Dutch nobility and spent his childhood
in his parents' house in The Hague and at Twickel Castle in Delden. He
probably studied music with the organist, harpsichordist, composer and
theorist Quirinus van Blankenburg in The Hague. In 1707-09 he stayed
with his father and three sisters in Düsseldorf at the court of Johann
Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. The strong Italian influences at the court
had a major influence on his musical development. On 18 September 1710
Unico Wilhelm was admitted to the University of Leiden to study law. In
December 1711 he interrupted his studies to go to Frankfurt for the
coronation of the Emperor Charles VI. In June 1713, after completing his
studies, he returned to Düsseldorf where his father and sisters had
settled. He may have accompanied Arent van Wassenaer Duyvenvoorde on a
visit to Britain in 1715-16. He made a grand tour of France and Italy in
1717-18. In 1723 Unico Wilhelm married Dodonea Lucia van Goslinga (the
daughter of Sicco van Goslinga), with whom he had three children. While
based at the Hague between 1725 and 1740, Unico Wilhelm wrote the six
Concerti Armonici. The Concerti armonici, published anonymously in 1740,
were printed in London in 1755 as compositions by the violinist and
impresario Carlo Ricciotti (c.1681-1756). It has since been established
that these were the work of Unico Wilhelm. There is no evidence that
Ricciotti wrote any music. The concerti were dedicated to Wilhelm's
friend, Count Willem Bentinck. In 1744 he was sent on a diplomatic
mission to the French court, and in the autumn of 1744 and again in 1745
he was sent to the court of Clemens August, Elector of Cologne. In 1746
he went again to France, and finally in 1746-47 to Breda for further
discussions with the French. Although clearly intelligent, Unico Wilhelm
was not a natural diplomat. Unico Wilhelm was a commander of the
Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Teutonic Order. He was made coadjutor in
1753, and introduced administrative and managerial innovations. In 1761
he was made Commander of the order. He died in The Hague on November 9,
1766.
Cap comentari:
Publica un comentari a l'entrada