A collection of elementary classical piano pieces ranging in moods from cheerful romantic serenity, to mysterious drama or trajedy. This CD is of interest to piano teachers and customers curious about an unknown, but well loved Italian composer.

67 MP3 Songs in this album (70:17) !
Related styles: Easy Listening: Background Music, World: Mediterranean, Featuring Piano

People who are interested in Clara Haskil Vladimir Horowitz should consider this download.


Details:
In November of 1778, F. P. Ricci placed an announcement in a Hague newspaper that his "Recueil" would be available for "seven Dutch nickels at the beginning of 1779." Many music historians consider this 100 piece work to be the first piano-forte method.

In the introduction, Ricci writes:
"The same zeal that drives your efforts to guide your students has compelled me to follow with my own, the order that you will find in this "Recueil de Connaissances Elementaires". The success that this work has always brought me has led me to publish it, and I dare to hope that it will meet with your approval."

Ricci was born In the beautiful town of Como, Italy at the foot of the Swiss Alps in 1732. Soon after he finished his musical studies, he was ordained a priest, and later he attained the post as maestro di cappella at the Como Cathedral. His church superiors granted Ricci autonomy, allowing him to seek his fortune abroad. He lived a long and fruitful life of 85 years as touring musician, composer, musical entrepreneur and as a well loved music teacher. The music on this CD is from the "Recueil" and he probably wrote the pieces for his students.

Recently with the aid of the Italian musicologist Oscar Tajetti, 200 letters written to Ricci have come to light. In her book based on these letters, "Mon Cher Ami", Helen Metzelaar describes how two of his students in Milan, Marianne and Julie Imbonate wrote to Ricci: "We wait impatiently for your arrival...for the pleasure of playing the Musette together". Another letter from the Como Archive is from La Salazar de Los Porta who writes: "I am flattered that you will have the graciousness to write some easy music pieces for my limited ability and I wish with all my heart to play something really by you". Did some of these "easy pieces" later find their way into the "Recueil"? Did the "Musette" become "No 82"? Ricci very likely accompanied his students on the violin.

In about 1764, Ricci began to make the journey across the Alps into the countries of Northern Europe, with his touring partner and friend, the famous cellist, Francesco Zappa. Soon he made his home in Holland where he would remain for the next sixteen years. He started to publish his music. Works with and without opus numbers emerged. His work, "Dies Irae, Opus 7" was published in 1773. The "Recueil" has no opus number, but it is the first, #45", in a long list of his compositions at the Dutch music library, "1183 Huis Amerongen Muziekbibliotheek".

His most important student, Josina van Boetzelaer, became one of only two eighteenth century female composers in Holland who's music survives today. She expresses her gratitude and reverence for Ricci in the dedication to him of her "Opus 3".

Your Lordship:

I would like to send you this humble piece that I was able to compose
without your help.
I hope your Lordship will enjoy it as a sign of
my eternal gratitude.
With all my esteem and possible care for you, my Lordship.
Your devoted and true friend
Giustina di Boetzelaer....
(Helen Metzelaar, 'Mon CHER AMI': A NEW SOURCE ON FRANCESCO PASQUALE RICCI , HIS MUSIC CAREER AND HIS DUTCH PUPILS published by Tijdschift van De Koninklijk Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis, 2010) page

When he wasn't on tour, he gathered around himself a large group of students. Like Josina, they revered him. He, in return, would behave like a kind uncle. They would often ask him to write pieces for them. One letter from the Como Archive is from a former student who needed 70 ducats immediately. While he was away on tour his students would ask him to send them things such as books and in Josina's case, woolen socks in order to help a friend's husband who had gout. In another letter, she chastised him for not packing her hair cream well enough so that half of it spilled en route.

He was very active as a musician in The Hague, performing for the House of Orange and at the and