Boccherini: Italian composer who loved Spain

When young, this reporter watched many cold medicine commercials where a child model appears with silent background music. It was Luigi Boccherini’s Minuet. You may think he must have been a smiley composer to compose such a gentle music, but he was surprisingly picky.

Boccherini is a typical Italian family name. His Quintet for Guitar and Strings in D, G.448 "Fandango” is the most favored piece by people following “Minute.” Fandango is dance music with a strong Spanish taste based on the guitar. Castanets also play a role in the music. Then, why an 18-century Italian composed Spanish dance music?

The Italian composer, who was famous for being a cello genius in Rome, moved to Madrid, the capital city of Spain, at age 18 when he was employed by Infante Luis Antonio of Spain, younger brother of King Charles III. He worked as a court musician and one day the king asked him to change a part of his new piece. The offended musician extended the piece twofold, instead of changing the part. As a result, he was dismissed.

Then, he moved to Prussia to serve King Friedrich Wilhelm II. It must have been better than in Spain. The king himself was a good flute and cello player and sponsored Boccherini. The king was the son of Friedrich II who asked Johann Sebastian Bach to compose “The musical offering.” But after the king was death, Boccherini returned to Madrid, not to Italy. All sponsors were gone but he died in Spain where there were memories in his youth.

Famous Slovak guitarist Miriam Brullova and Kallaci String Quartet will play “Fandango“ at Nanse Gum’s Chamber Music Gala Concert in the Seoul Arts Center on Sunday, which happens to be Boccherini’s 272nd birthday. It would be an opportunity to look back on the traces of a man who was picky but loved his second hometown Madrid.