Giuseppe Ferlendis
1755 -1810
Today we visit a piece that is doubly off the Classical Music beaten track.
Firstly the composer Giuseppe Ferlendis, a largely forgotten but much travelled Italian (born in Bergamo) who spent much time on the other side of the Alps in the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg before moving to Brescia, Venice and London. Eventually he settled in Lisbon where he lived out the remainder of his days.
Secondly as an oboist as well as a composer he wrote a number of works featuring an instrument that rarely gets a look in. His oboe concertos give the instrument a rare outing to explore the virtuosity of the performer and the range of the instrument.
Whilst in Salzburg he was an influence on the young Mozart, who may have taken inspiration from the oboe concertos to use in his flute concerto. He is also believed to have worked at making improvements to the design of the English Horn.
But here are the works for which he is rightly best known:
For a start, he was a lucky chap to live in Bergamo, Salzburg and Lisbon!
Agree this one is top quality, and, like so many, deserves more attention.
As for mobility, I guess late c18 church and minor princes were both declining as patrons, and not clear who would pay for composers?