Robert Coldwell

Luigi Sagrini’s op. 4 was dedicated to Luigi Legnani and the theme was listed as “Racio Calupo.” This seemed odd for a well-known prodigy to dedicate a work to a famous guitarist yet use an obscure theme. Nothing related to “Racio Calupo” turned up in searches, so I began to suspect the name was wrong. After much effort, and help from other researchers, I believe I found the source for the theme. The source I located is obscure and unfortunately does not help explain the relationship between Sagrini and Legnani, who dedicated works to each other.

This table represents the most complete catalog of works by Francesco Calegari. Not much detail about his life is known besides his works and a single concert advertised for July 24, 1815 in Leipzig. He published most of his works with opus numbers through Hofmeister in Leipzig, beginning in 1813 and none appear after 1818. He seems to have returned to Florence in 1818 as his only work for guitar was published by Ricordi that year. Ricordi lists music for piano published by an F. Calegari from 1827 through 1838 but it is unknown whether this is the same composer.

Pfennig magazines were cheap collections in the 1830s of music for instruments such as guitar, piano, violin, and flute. Two in Germany began publication in 1834 with similar titles.