Domenico Dragonetti

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Domenico Dragonetti

Born:

April 9, 1763, Venice, Italy

Died:

April 16, 1846, London, England

Gasparo da Salo Bass

Studied with: Berini who was principal double bassist in St. Marks chapel in Venice.

Played for: St. Marks chapel, Venice; Grand Opera, Vicenza; The King's Theatre, London; The Ancient Concerts, London; The Philharmonic Society, London;

Comment: The photograph, most probably a Daguerreotype, was taken in 1843 when Dragonetti was 80. Notice the shape of the bow.

Bow Grip

Instruments: Dragonetti collected many fine basses during his life and left most of them to his friends in his will. This is his most famous bass, a Gasparo da Salo presented to him by the Benedictine Nuns of the Convent of San Pietro in Vicenza. On his death, it was returned to the Chapel of St. Marco in Venice where he played early in his career.

Bibliography:

Brun, Paul, A History of the Double Bass (France, 1989)

Brun, Paul, A New History of the Double Bass (Villeneuve d'Ascq, Paul Brun Productions, 2000)

Elgar, Raymond, More About the Double Bass (Sussex England, 1963)

Heyes, David, The Dragon's Allure, Double Bassist Number 1 Spring/Summer 1996

Palmer, Fiona M., Domenico Dragonetti in England (1794-1846) (Oxford; Clarendon Press, 1997)