Giacomo Antonio Monzino was born in Milan in 1772; he was a skillful
guitarist and composer for guitar, whose activity was confined, presumably, to
north Italy for all his life. About him there exists little biographical
information. He was the son of Antonio Monzino, one of the most popular stringed
instrument makers and dealers in Milan; Antonio was already in this trade by the
second half of Eighteenth Century. Giacomo learned the study of violin and
composition in his home city, but he also expressed an interest in and devoted
some time to guitar study, under his father's guidance. He was employed in his
father's firm in the early 1800's to learn the family trade, but he did not stay
in the business for a long time. He preferred to entrust the responsibility of
his firm to a qualified worker, and to devote all his time to the study of
literature and composition for the guitar.
He started his business as editor in the first year of the Nineteenth Century, aiming at the publication and promulgation of the guitar music mainly of local composers. This activity flourished for at least 20 years, and he contributed significantly to the development of the guitar repertoire, in competition with other great publishers in Milan. Also in the short span of a few years he composed his best works, which were inserted in the first catalogue of printed music of the firm, dated 1813. After this period he studied and taught the mandolin. He died in Milan in 1854 (some sources say 1845).
It is possible today to make quite a detailed survey of Monzino's surviving musical production; it comprises 18 opus numbers, not only for solo guitar, but also for flute or violin and guitar, and for voice and guitar.
Looking in more detail at his work, we see that worth mentioning are the Duets for flute or violin and guitar Op.13 and 15, the Sinfonia for flute and guitar, (no opus), the Serenade Op.3, always for flute or violin and guitar, which was published by Giovanni Re, one of the most renowned engravers in Milan, in collaboration with the Garegnani Brothers.
Appreciable among the works for solo guitar are the Sonatina Op.1; Ten Preludes and Rondo Op.2; Pastorale Op.9; Ronḍ Op.4; the Variations Op.10 & 16; Sinfonia Op.6; Three Sonatas Op.8 and the Sonata Op.11. Other short works for guitar have didactic value, among which are worth mentioning the Divertimenti Op.14, which were republished several times, as well as the Twelve Monferrine and Six Waltzes Op.5, 7 e 12, published by the editor Giovanni Ricordi in about 1810.
A special mention must be made of some Cavatine for voice and guitar based on Operas of Orlandi and Raj, (no opus number), and a method for guitar, entitled Metodo con Principi elementari di musica Op.18, that contained a "Regola dimostrativa del manico della chitarra&148; ("Demonstrative rule for the guitar neck").
Moreover there are in several Italian libraries some other short works by Monzino for solo guitar, voice and guitar, manuscripts, and his only duet for two guitars (with no opus nor editorial references).
Bibliography notes
- M. Agostinelli, G.Podera e F. Rossini, "GIACOMO MONZINO - Chitarrista ed editore del primo Ottocento", Ottocento Ediz. Musicali, Ancona (1993).