Composer. His importance rests on his 12 "Sonate da Cimbalo di Piano e Forte" (1732), the earliest known music written specifically for the piano. This pioneering collection appeared some 40 years before the piano began to replace the harpsichord as the premier concert keyboard instrument, and made effective use of its wider dynamic resources. Giustini was born in Pistoia, Italy, into a family of musicians. In 1725 he succeeded his father as organist of Pistoia's Congregazione dello Spirito Santo and in 1734 became organist of the Cathedral there, while also teaching at a Jesuit seminary, the Collegio dei Nobili. He made frequent trips to Florence and may have been introduced to the new piano by its credited inventor, Bartolomeo Cristofori, who lived in that city. Giustini is known to have written oratorios ("La Fuga di S. Teresia", 1726), cantatas, and a set of "Lamentations" (1728), but of these only fragments of a few arias survive.
Composer. His importance rests on his 12 "Sonate da Cimbalo di Piano e Forte" (1732), the earliest known music written specifically for the piano. This pioneering collection appeared some 40 years before the piano began to replace the harpsichord as the premier concert keyboard instrument, and made effective use of its wider dynamic resources. Giustini was born in Pistoia, Italy, into a family of musicians. In 1725 he succeeded his father as organist of Pistoia's Congregazione dello Spirito Santo and in 1734 became organist of the Cathedral there, while also teaching at a Jesuit seminary, the Collegio dei Nobili. He made frequent trips to Florence and may have been introduced to the new piano by its credited inventor, Bartolomeo Cristofori, who lived in that city. Giustini is known to have written oratorios ("La Fuga di S. Teresia", 1726), cantatas, and a set of "Lamentations" (1728), but of these only fragments of a few arias survive.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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