Giovanni Battista Draghi (composer)
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Battista Draghi (c. 1640 – 13 May 1708) was an Italian composer
and keyboard player. He may have been the brother of the composer Antonio Draghi
.
Draghi was brought to London
in the 1660s by King Charles II
who was trying, unsuccessfully, to establish Italian opera
in England
. He remained in England for the rest of his life.
In 1673 Draghi was made first organist of the queen's Catholic chapel in Somerset House
. In 1684 he took part in what became known as the Battle of the Organs. He was hired by master organ maker Renatus Harris
to demonstrate the superiority of his organ when Harris was trying to gain the contract to build the new organ for the Temple Church
. Harris' rival "Father" Bernard Smith hired organists and composers John Blow
and Henry Purcell
to demonstrate his organ and won the contest.
Draghi was awarded a pension by King William III
in 1698.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and keyboard player. He may have been the brother of the composer Antonio Draghi
Antonio Draghi
Antonio Draghi was a Baroque composer. He possibly was the brother of Giovanni Battista Draghi.Draghi was born at Rimini in Italy, and was one of the most prolific composers of his time. His contribution to the development of Italian opera was particularly significant...
.
Draghi was brought to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the 1660s by King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
who was trying, unsuccessfully, to establish Italian opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He remained in England for the rest of his life.
In 1673 Draghi was made first organist of the queen's Catholic chapel in Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
. In 1684 he took part in what became known as the Battle of the Organs. He was hired by master organ maker Renatus Harris
Renatus Harris
Renatus Harris was a master organ maker in England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.During the period of the Commonwealth, in the mid seventeenth century, Puritans controlled the country and organ music was banned in churches. Many organ makers left England for the continent,...
to demonstrate the superiority of his organ when Harris was trying to gain the contract to build the new organ for the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
. Harris' rival "Father" Bernard Smith hired organists and composers John Blow
John Blow
John Blow was an English Baroque composer and organist, appointed to Westminster Abbey in 1669. His pupils included William Croft, Jeremiah Clarke and Henry Purcell. In 1685 he was named a private musician to James II. His only stage composition, Venus and Adonis John Blow (baptised 23 February...
and Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
to demonstrate his organ and won the contest.
Draghi was awarded a pension by King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
in 1698.