About Me
Giovanni Bottesini was born on December 22, 1821 in Crema Italy. He was taught music as a child by his father who was a clarinetist. His musical life was full under him. The young Bottesini was a singer in several choirs, he played timpani with Teatro Cociale (a local opera house), and studied violin under the local master Carlo Cogliati. His life seemed to lead that he would go on to become a great violinist, but it was not to be.When Bottesini reached the ripe age of thirteen, his father applied for him to enter Milan Conservatory. But due to his families lack of money, a scholarship was required. With only two scholarships available (bassoon and double bass), Bottesini chose the double bass. And, in a few weeks prepared a audition that was good enough to impress the judges at Milan.Once admitted to Milan, Bottesini began to study counterpoint, composition, and double bass under Luigi Rossi. Here his progress was remarkable. And, in 1839, he left with a sizable prize for solo playing. (He used this money to salvage a Testore double bass)In 1840, he was last chair in Brescia. Defiantly not the greatest start for the young master, but a job none the less. He stayed here for two seasons before taking over the principal spot in Verona. It is in Verona where he met is live long friend Giuseppi Verdi. From here, he moved on to San Benedetto orchestra.With some solo performances on the side, Bottesini did not truly "make it" as a performer until is debut in England 1849. This jump-started his career as a soloist.Giovanni Bottesini was also a world class conductor. Conducting many orchestras and operas. But, his most notable honor was conducting the world premiere of Verdi's opera Aida in Cairo.Bottesini was appointed director of Parma Conservatory in 1889. But, six months later on July 7, 1889, Bottesini passed away.He wrote 10 opera's, many quartets and quintets, 4 solo concerto's for the double bass, along with dozens of solo pieces, and several duets for the double bass and other instruments.His music is commonly underperformed today. His concerto's are also very rare. Not due to lack of musicality, but due to to the fact that the music is composed for such a skilled player such as Bottesini.His double bass was very strange. Not for the fact that he played a 3-string bass(which was not uncommon at the time), but due to his unique tunings and his bow choice. Giovanni Bottesini was the first to use what is today called the "French Bow". Up until Bottesini, it was the german bow that dominated all basses everywhere. Even the great bassist Dragonetti and violinist Paganini heard of this bow and had distasteful remarks about the strangeness of this bow.Another strange thing Bottesini did with his bass is his tunings. There has been many speculations about tunings. Thomas Martin is convinced that Bottesini tuned (top to bottom) Bb, F, C. I am convinced that Bottesini's lowest string must have been B, due to the fact that none of his music goes below that note. It is no debate that he tuned in 5ths.
