Francesco Paolo Supriani

Francesco Paolo Tomaso Supriani (Conversano, 11 July 1678 – Naples, 28 August 1753) was an Italian cellist and composer of the Neapolitan school. Biography He was a student of Conservatorio della Pietà dei Turchini from 1693, where he became a cello virtuoso. He was the author of a manuscript didactic collection of toccatas for the instrument, with an explanatory introduction, entitled: Principij da imparare à suonare il violoncello e con 12 Toccate à solo, found and published by the musicologist and cellist Luigi Silva (1903–1961). A copy of the manuscript is kept in the Biblioteca Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella, Naples. In this work Supriani already uses the fifth position, as well as the bass and tenor clefs. As a virtuoso cellist, he helped the cello to emerge from its traditional rank of continuo and reach the elevated status of a solo instrument. Supriani is considered one of the teachers of Francesco Alborea, commonly known as “Franciscello”. Compositions Principij da imparare à suonare il violoncello e con 12 Toccate à solo (1720) 12 Toccatas for cello solo: * Toccata prima in G major * Toccata seconda in A minor * Toccata terza in B flat major * Toccata quarta in C maj