Jacchini Giuseppe Maria, *16 July 1667 Bologna, †2 May 1727 Bologna, Italian composer and cellist. As a child, he probably belonged to the choir at the Basilica of S. Petronio in Bologna, and later spent several years as a student at the seminary attached to the church. He was taught composition by G.A. Perti and cello by D. Gabrieli. Between 1680 and 1688, Jacchini was probably occasionally engaged as a cellist during the annual celebrations in honor of the basilica’s patron saint (4 October), and from 1689 until the ensemble was dissolved in 1696, and from the resumption of the band’s activities in 1701 until the end of his life, he served as the permanent cellist at S. Petronio. At the same time, he was the bandmaster at the Collegio dei Nobili and at the church of S. Luigi. In 1688, he became a member of the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna.
Jacchini was a representative of the Bolognese school (associated with the Basilica of San Petronio) and, like other representatives of this circle, the composer wrote exclusively instrumental works. His interest focused on sonatas (solo and trio) and concertos (solo and concerti grossi); these are three-part works structured in the fast-slow-fast sequence. Being an excellent virtuoso, Jacchini often entrusted solo sections to the cello, thanks to which this instrument became partially independent from the basso continuo part. The concertos (trattenimenti) for 1 or 2 trumpets, inspired by the skills of the excellent trumpeter from the Bolognese band G.P. Prandi, clearly refer to the works of G. Torelli. As a performer, Jacchini drew attention for his skill in accompaniment and for realizing the harmonic foundation of a work through chords.
Literature: W. Apel Italian Violin Music of the Seventeenth Century, Bloomington 1990; M. Vanscheeuwijck, The Cappella musicale of S. Petronio in Bologna under G.P. Colonna (1674-1695): history – organisation – repertoire, Brussels 2003; G. Burnett, Bolognese Instrumental Music, 1660–1710. Spiritual Comfort, Courtly Delight, and Commercial Triumph, London 2008.
Compositions:
6 Sonate a violino e violoncello, et [2] a violoncello solo per camera Op. 1, Bologna ca. 1692, facs. ed., Bologna 2001
10 Sonate da camera a tre, e quattro stromenti, col violoncello obligato Op.2, Bologna 1695
8 Concerti per camera a violino, e violoncello solo col bosso, e nel fine 2 sonate a violoncello solo col bosso Op. 3, Modena 1697
10 Concerti per camera a 3 e 4 stromenti, con violoncello obligato Op. 4, Bologna 1701
10 Trattenimenti per camera a 3, 4, 5 e 6 stromenti con alcune a una, e due trombe Op. 5, Bologna 1703
3 sonatas for violin and cello, in collective prints, Bologna ca. 1680 and 1700
works scored for one or two trumpets, two violins, viola, cello, and basso continuo in the manuscripts of the library of the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna:
Sinfonia con tromba, 1690
Sonata con tromba, 1695
Da morto sonata eon trombe sordine, 1695
Sonata a 5 con tromba
Editions:
sonatas for cello and basso continuo, Op. 1 nos. 7 and 8, ed. F. Vaticelli, Bologna n.d.
A practical edition of the trumpet sonatas of G. Jacchini, eds. A.L. Pickard, Ann Arbor, MI, 1975
Sinfonie, Op. 5, nos. 1 and 8, ed. R.P. Block, London 1978
Sonata B-dur für zwei Trompeten und Orgel, ed. H. Wetzlar, Kassel 1983
Cello concerts, Op. 4 nos. 2 and 9, ed. D. Townsend, New York 1986
Sonata for cello and basso continuo, Op. 1, no. 8, eds. G. Darmstadt, C. Lohff, Mainz 2000
4 sonate per violoncello e b.c.: estratte dalle “Sonate”, op.1 e dai “Concerti per camera”, Op. 3, ed. A. Bares, Albese con Cassano 2008
