Giulio Regondi (1822 – 6 May 1872) was a Swiss-born classical guitarist, concertinist and composer active in France and (mainly) the United Kingdom.
Regondi was born of a German mother and an Italian father in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1831 Fernando Sor dedicated his Souvenir d'amitié op. 46 to Regondi, a child prodigy, when the boy was just nine.
There is a reference to his appearing in London in 1831, presented as a child prodigy of the guitar.The Times, 16 June 1831; p. 3; "A NEW MUSICAL FUND: […] An interesting little boy of the name of Regondi, apparently between six and seven years of age, performed a fantasia on the guitar, with most manly power and surprising brilliancy. He was seated on a stool, which was placed on the pianoforte […].” All of Regondi's concertina music was written for the English system, at which he was a virtuoso,The Times, 26 April 1837; p. 5; "GREAT CONCERT-ROOM – KING'S THEATRE […] There was also a novelty in the shape of an instrument called 'a concertina,' an improvement on the accordion, which has been such a favourite musical toy for the last two or three years. The tones of this instrument are sweet and pleasing; but far more striking than the concertina itself were the feeling and ease with which it was played by that clever little boy Giulio Regondi, who executed several intricate passages with surprising facility and precision." though his guitar music is now better known. Regondi's works for solo guitar comprise a set of etudes, variations on a theme by Bellini and five larger works.
Regondi died in London.
Selected works Nocturne 'Rêverie''' op. 19, for guitarFête villageoise 'Rondo caprice' op. 20, for guitarAir varié No. 1 op. 21, for guitarAir varié No. 2 op. 22, for guitarIntroduction et caprice op. 23, for guitarTen Études, for guitarFeuillet d'album for guitarFantasie über Mozarts Don Giovanni (Solo on Don Giovanni, partly from Thalberg's piece) for guitar (1840) rediscovered in 2007Air varié de l’opera de Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi for guitar (1845) rediscovered in 2007Concerto in D, for concertina, published with piano accompaniment (1855)Concerto in Eb, for concertina, never published but survives in manuscript with piano accompanimentFantasia on English Airs, for concertina and pianoLeisure Moments (1-6), for concertina and piano (1857)Leisure Moments (7-12), for concertina and pianoMorceau de salon, for concertina and pianoLes oiseaux; Morceau de concert, for concertina and pianoSerenade in A major, for concertina and pianoRecollections of Home, for concertinaEcco ridente il cielo, for concertinaHexameron du concertiniste; Six Études, for concertinaThree Waltzes, for concertinaRemembrance, for baritone concertinaSouvenir d'amitié'', for baritone concertina
External links Articles on Regondi by Alessandro Boris Amisich Giulio Regondi in Ireland by Thomas Lawrence (ref) The poem , by Felicia Hemans was published in 1840, after the poet's death in 1835. It cannot have been written later than 1834.
Publications Concert Works for Guitar opp.19-23 edited by Simon Wynberg (Chanterelle Verlag) Air varié de l’opera de Bellini: I Capuleti e i Montecchi edited by Stefan R. Hackl (Editions Orphée) Giulio Regondi: Ten Etudes revised and edited by Matanaya Ophee (Editions Orphée)
Sheet music Rischel & Birket-Smith's Collection of guitar music 1 Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Denmark Boije Collection The Music Library of Sweden George C. Krick Collection of Guitar Music Washington University
Images Images of Giulio Regondi (Royal Academy of Music) Giulio Regondi, "The Young Guitar player as he appeared on the 3rd of Sepr. at the Royal Adelphi Theatre." Image Image (Article: A 41-cent emendation)
References