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From the Periphery to the Centre and Back: The Case of Giuseppe Raffaelli from Hvar (1767-1843)

Giuseppe Raffaelli – composer, organist and priest – was born in Hvar (the island of Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia) in 1767, into a wealthy patrician family. He was introduced to music already at young age and inside of family circle, since his father Marcantonio was a music amateur and solid violinist. Giuseppe Raffaelli was taking private music lessons with Giulio Bajamonti, who lived in Hvar from 1785 until 1790, primarily working as a community physician. One can properly suggest that Bajamonti, today considered as one of the greatest Croatian polyhistors and composers of the second half of the 18th century, might have had a major influence on Raffaelli's decision to continue his music studies in Italy. Namely, after completing his theology degree in Hvar and becoming a priest, Raffaelli went to Italy in 1792, where he remained for at least nine years. At first he studied music in Venice and Padua and later spent few years working as the chapelmaster in the small town of Este. After returning to his hometown in 1804, Raffaelli became a key figure of church music in Hvar, holding the positions of maestro di capella and organist in the Cathedral throughout most of the first half of the 19th century. Considering quantity and quality of his sacred works – preserved in manuscripts, mainly in the Archives of the Hvar Cathedral – it seems that church music (practice) in town was significantly improved during the period of Raffaelli's service in the Cathedral. Nonetheless, all of his works are vocal(- instrumental) and of church provenance, composed primarily for services in the Cathedral of Hvar (with the exception of instrumental variations for keyboard instruments from his pre-Italian period, c1790). Generally, Raffaelli's compositions are written for male choirs singing a capella or with organ accompaniment, although parts for (chamber) orchestra are present in his several pieces as well. Elements of Italian 18th century (operatic) music are predominant and common feature of Raffaelli's sacred works, reflecting composer's Mediterranean cultural background and musical knowledge adopted in Italy. This article will provide an overview of Raffaelli's life and work, emphasizing the relevance of migration process from periphery (Hvar) to the center (Italy) and back (Hvar) in composer's musical progress. Former writings on Raffaelli will be discussed, but also amended with results of recent research of his manuscripts kept in the Archives of the Hvar Cathedral.

Josip Raffaelli, Hvar, 18./19. stoljeće, glazbene migracije

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