Molino's Sonatas for Guitar and Violin give the guitar the main role, making it the protagonist in a fully concertante context, rather than just an accompaniment.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Molino's compositional style is characterized by linearity, restraint, delicacy, and transparency, distinguishing him from more exuberant models like Giuliani or Carulli.
Critical Reception
Molino's fame in Paris was such that a heated dispute, known as the 'Discussion entre les Carulistes et les Molinistes', arose between his supporters and those of fellow guitarist Ferdinando Carulli.
Composer Biography
Francesco Molino, a descendant of a well-known family of musicians from Piedmont, began his career as an oboist in the Sardinian Army and occasionally played viola in the Teatro Regio of Turin.
Instruments
Around 1820, Molino worked as a luthier, creating a guitar with violin-derived features like a bridge with a tailpiece and a slightly convex sounding board, aiming for better sound and handling.
Historical Context
Molino belonged to a generation of musicians who elevated the guitar from an amateur instrument to a concert instrument during the European revolutions of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Composer Biography
Molino found success in Paris as a guitar composer, performer, and teacher, benefiting from the patronage of figures like the Duchess of Berry.
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