Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Barsanti, Francesco

Barsanti, Francesco. A native of Lucca, born about the year 1690. He studied the civil law in the University of Padua, but, after a short stay there, chose music for his profession. Accordingly he put himself under the tuition of some of the ablest masters in Italy, and having attained to a considerable degree of proficiency in the science of practical composition, took a resolution to settle in England, and arrived there with Geminiani, who was also a Luccese, in the year 1714. He continued many years a performer at the Opera House; at length reflecting that there was a prospect of advantage for one of his profession in Scotland, he went thither, and, with greater truth than the same is asserted of David Rizzio, may be said to have meliorated the music of that country, by collecting and making basses to a great number of the most popular Scotch tunes. About the year 1750, Barsanti returned to England ; but being advanced in years, he was glad to be taken into the opera band as a per-former on the tenor violin, and in the summer season to that of Vauxhall. At this time he published twelve concertos for violins, and shortly after, "Sei Antifone," in which he endeavored to imitate the style of Palestrina and the old composers of motets ; but from these publications little profit resulted. Among his earlier compositions were six solos for a flute, with a thorough bass, and afterwards " Six Solos for a German Flute and a Bass." He likewise formed the first six solos of Geminiani into sonatas for two violins and a bass.