Arnold Franchetti
Encyclopedia
Arnold Franchetti was a composer born in Lucca, Italy. Young Franchetti studied composition and piano with his father, the Baron Alberto Franchetti
(1860–1942). Baron Franchetti was a wealthy, well-respected and successful composer of the operas often performed at La Scala
including Germania (performed by Enrico Caruso, conducted by Arturo Toscanini
) and Christoforo Colombo. Urban legend has it that Luigi Illica
's libretto of La Bohème
was first offered to Franchetti who, too busy at the time with other projects, passed it on to his friend Puccini.
Arnold Franchetti studied physics at the University of Florence, music at the Salzburg Mozarteum, and then moved to Munich, where he studied composition and orchestration with composer Richard Strauss
for three years. After a brief stint with the Italian army during World War II, Franchetti joined the anti-Mussolini underground resistance.
Franchetti arrived in the United States in 1948 and was befriended by Aaron Copland
, who helped the young immigrant composer gain a professional footing by arranging performances of Franchetti's chamber music in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. In 1950 Franchetti was appointed to the composition faculty of the Hartt School of Music, the University of Hartford
, where he remained until his retirement in 1979. During his 45 years in the United States, Franchetti received composition honors and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation
, the National Endowment for the Arts
, National Institute of Arts and Letters, and many other prestigious organizations.
Franchetti composed music in all genres including orchestral, symphonic wind ensemble (including the 1985 euphonium concerto, Sinfonia Drammatica, commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi
of Butler University
in Indianapolis), chamber music (including Canti, premiered by saxophonist Donald Sinta
) and solo music (including five piano sonatas, significant works that have been analyzed in multiple doctoral dissertations).
Franchetti composed numerous theatre works including the opera, Married Men Go to Hell (1974) and the genre-bending Dracula 1979. Another important Franchetti theatrical work is Lazarus (for narrator and symphonic wind ensemble) based on the book Soul on Ice
by 1960's Black Panther activist Eldridge Cleaver
.
Franchetti's successful composition students have included: Barbara Kolb
, Michael Schelle, Robert Beaser, Jonathan Kramer, Jack Elliott, Robert Lombardo, Henry Gwiazda
, Norman Dinerstein, Gwynneth Walker, Lee T. McQuillan and many others.
Alberto Franchetti
Alberto Franchetti was an Italian opera composer.-Biography:Alberto Franchetti was born in Turin, a Jewish nobleman of independent means. He studied first in Venice, then in Dresden under Felix Draeseke, and finally at the Munich Conservatory under Josef Rheinberger. His first major success...
(1860–1942). Baron Franchetti was a wealthy, well-respected and successful composer of the operas often performed at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
including Germania (performed by Enrico Caruso, conducted by Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
) and Christoforo Colombo. Urban legend has it that Luigi Illica
Luigi Illica
Luigi Illica was an Italian librettist who wrote for Giacomo Puccini , Alfredo Catalani, Umberto Giordano, Baron Alberto Franchetti and other important Italian composers. His most famous opera librettos are those for La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Andrea Chénier.Illica was born at...
's libretto of La Bohème
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
was first offered to Franchetti who, too busy at the time with other projects, passed it on to his friend Puccini.
Arnold Franchetti studied physics at the University of Florence, music at the Salzburg Mozarteum, and then moved to Munich, where he studied composition and orchestration with composer Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
for three years. After a brief stint with the Italian army during World War II, Franchetti joined the anti-Mussolini underground resistance.
Franchetti arrived in the United States in 1948 and was befriended by Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
, who helped the young immigrant composer gain a professional footing by arranging performances of Franchetti's chamber music in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. In 1950 Franchetti was appointed to the composition faculty of the Hartt School of Music, the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1979. During his 45 years in the United States, Franchetti received composition honors and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was founded in 1925 by Mr. and Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in memory of their son, who died April 26, 1922...
, the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, National Institute of Arts and Letters, and many other prestigious organizations.
Franchetti composed music in all genres including orchestral, symphonic wind ensemble (including the 1985 euphonium concerto, Sinfonia Drammatica, commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...
of Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
in Indianapolis), chamber music (including Canti, premiered by saxophonist Donald Sinta
Donald Sinta
Donald Sinta is an American classical saxophonist, educator, and administrator.In 1969 he was the first elected chair of the World Saxophone Congress.-Teaching career:He serves as Earl V...
) and solo music (including five piano sonatas, significant works that have been analyzed in multiple doctoral dissertations).
Franchetti composed numerous theatre works including the opera, Married Men Go to Hell (1974) and the genre-bending Dracula 1979. Another important Franchetti theatrical work is Lazarus (for narrator and symphonic wind ensemble) based on the book Soul on Ice
Soul on Ice
Soul On Ice is the critically acclaimed debut album by West Coast rapper Ras Kass. It was released on October 1, 1996, by Priority Records and was produced by Ras Kass, as well as DJ Battlecat, Vooodu, Bird, Michael Barber, Michael Schlesinger, and Reno Delajuan...
by 1960's Black Panther activist Eldridge Cleaver
Eldridge Cleaver
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver better known as Eldridge Cleaver, was a leading member of the Black Panther Party and a writer...
.
Franchetti's successful composition students have included: Barbara Kolb
Barbara Kolb
Barbara Kolb is an American composer. Her music uses sound masses and often creates vertical structures through simultaneous rhythmic or melodic units . She was the first American woman composer to win the Prix de Rome. She received her B.M. and M.M...
, Michael Schelle, Robert Beaser, Jonathan Kramer, Jack Elliott, Robert Lombardo, Henry Gwiazda
Henry Gwiazda
Henry Gwiazda is a composer who specializes in virtual audio, the simulation of a three dimensional sound space in either headphones or precisely positioned speakers. He composes what may be called musique concrète, using samples usually without "tinker[ing]" with them.Gwiazda is credited with...
, Norman Dinerstein, Gwynneth Walker, Lee T. McQuillan and many others.