Francesco Petrini

Francesco Petrini (1744–1819) was a harpist and composer.

Petrini, whose father was harpist of the chapel royal in Berlin,[1] became famous in Paris for his compositions Variations and Concerto for harp in E flat major.[2] Much of his work remains part of the standard harp repertoire today.[3]

Career

In 1765 Petrini was harper to the court of Mecklenburg Schwerin, from where he moved to Paris.[1] In Paris he instructed many musicians, including Hinner, Marie Antoinette's harp master.[3]

Through the patronage of the princess de Lamballe he was able to publish his works, by monthly subscription, between 1779 and 1780. A second edition, also dedicated to de Lamballe, was published in 1783.[3] In 1795 he published a Systeme de l'Harmonie for harp.[1]

References

1. Sainsbury, John S. (1824) A Dictionary of Musicians: From the Earliest Ages to the Present Time, page 285, Sainsbury and Company. Accessed August 2019
2. Zingel, Hans Joachim (1992) Harp Music in the Nineteenth Century, page 10, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253368707. Accessed August 2019
3. Grant, Sarah (2018) Female Portraiture and Patronage in Marie Antoinette's Court: The Princesse de Lamballe, page 230, Routledge, ISBN 1351061801. Accessed August 2019

Additional information

• Fétis, François-Joseph (1865) Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie génèrale de la musique, Vol. 7, page 18-19, Librairie De Firmin Didot Freres. (French language) Accessed August 2019.