SAMMARTINI, GIUSEPPE  

Giuseppe Sammartini was born in Milan in 1695, the elder brother of Giovanni Battista Sammartini. An oboe virtuoso, his compositions were widely recognized only after his death. Sammartini moved to London in 1720 and played oboe with the London Opera Orchestra, becoming first oboist. In 1736 he became Musical Director of the Chamber Concerts to Frederick, Prince of Wales. Through Fredericks patronage, all of Sammartinis works were published. He wrote many works for organ, violin, harpsichord and flute. A close collaborator with Haydn, he played a great part in the development of Haydns classical style and also in the development of the symphony as a classical form. Sammartini spent the better part of his life in London, and died there in 1750.