Giuseppe Sammartini

Giuseppe Sammartini was an Italian composer and oboeist. He was the older brother of the composer and organist Giovanni Battista Sammartini. Both were sons of the French oboeist Alexis Saint-Martin, who was known as Alessio Sammartini in Milan; their mother Gerolama de Federici came from a family of famous Milanese oboeists. Giuseppe Sammartini grew out to be one of the most famous oboe-virtuosos of his time. 

He started studying the oboe with his father and for years he took place in the orchestra of the Teatro Regio Ducal in Milan. He was already regarded as a virtuoso then. His play was said to be lyrical and was often compared to the human voice. In 1727, he had built such a good reputation that he could make a good living as a soloist in London, where he stayed until his death. George Frideric Handel, too, was impressed by his skills and dedicated several oboe solos in his operas to him.  In London, Sammartini also had succes as a composer. In particular his sonatas were widely loved and were performed regularly. His solo concertos, however, were mostly published posthumously. Yet, these concertos revived in the 19th century. His style can be characterised as a typical baroque style, more so than his brother's, however at times classical influences can be heard as he makes of the sonata form and the rondo.