Francesco Ricupero

1740 - 1806

Since starting these pieces about lesser known musicians we have become used to finding composer about whom relatively little is known. But we can usually find some foot notes, some colour to add to the background of the composer.

In the case of Francesco Ricupero though, he is a champion of champions when it comes to being forgotten by history.

What little we do know is that he was from Naples. He studied at the Conservatory of the Pietà dei Turchini and worked as a bassoonist and oboist in prominent instrumental ensembles in Naples including both the Teatro di San Carlo orchestra and of the Reale Cappella in the city. He was also known to have held a post as musician at San Gennaro Treasure Music Chapel between 1767 until 1800.

This at least places him firmly in Naples and suggests he may have spent most of his time living and composing in Naples.

Unusually for a composer about whom so little is known, he left behind him an enormous amount of musical manuscripts, preserved at the Library of the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory. His work included a large corpus of sacred music, several masses, cantatas, psalms and other small sacred pieces. He also wrote an extensive collection of sonatas including 16 for flute and several for bassoon.

He must have left some kind of mark on contemporary music in his home city however as there are some brief notes dedicated to him by the Marquis of Villarosa in his work Memoirs of the Music Composers of the Kingdom of Naples.

The work below is a rather jolly light hearted piece which shows off the bassoon particularly well.