Luigi Boccherini
Luigi Boccherini (February 19, 1743 - May 28, 1805) was a classical era composer and cellist from Italy, now best known for one particular minuet for string quintet but also for his Cello Concerto in B flat major.Boccherini was born in Lucca, Italy to a musical family. At a young age his father sent him to study in Rome, and his talents eventually brought him to the court of Charles IV of Spain. There he flourished under his royal patronage, until one day when the King expressed his disapproval at a passage in a new trio, and ordered Boccherini to change it. The composer, no doubt irritated with this intrusion into his art, doubled the passage instead, leading to his immediate dismissal. Another patron was found in French consul Lucien Buonaparte, but it was not to last. Boccherini fell on hard times and died in poverty in 1805.
Boccherini is sometimes referred to as the "wife of Haydn", because much of his chamber music closely resembles the master's. However, Boccherini is often credited with improving Haydn's model of the string quartet by bringing the cello to prominence, whereas Haydn had always relegated to accompaniment.
He wrote a large amount of chamber music, including over a hundred string quintets for two violins, viola and two cellos (a type which he pioneered, the then common form consisting of two violins, two violas and one cello), nearly a hundred string quartets, and a number of string trios and sonatas, as well as a series of guitar quintets. His orchestral music includes a number of symphonies and virtuoso cello concertos.