Francesco G. Giuliani

Giovanni Francesco Giuliani (1760-1820) studied violin with the famous P. Nardini and counterpoint with B. Felice. His place of activity was Florence all his life, where he was highly regarded as a violinist and composer. At the same time, or probably 20 years earlier, there was also a musician by the name of Giuseppe Giuliano (sometimes also Giuliani), who came from Naples and composed numerous works for mandolin. This often leads to confusion. Giuseppe’s music is written from the spirit of Neapolitan music in the gallant style of the early classical period, while Giovanni Francesco’s music was based entirely on the style of Viennese music from the turn of the 19th century.
Giovanni Francesco’s music, especially quartets, both pure string quartets as well as with 1 or 2 mandolins and strings or 2 mandolins, flute and cello or viola, enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime and seem to have been completely forgotten today.
He seems to have particularly enjoyed composing for the mandolin, in addition to more than 30 quartets with mandolin in various formations, he also composed sonatas for mandolin and bass, trio sonatas for 2 mandolin and bass or duos for 2 mandolins. He also published a collection of 22 works for 2 mandolins by various authors in Italy.