Felice de Giardini

Felice de Giardini, usually known simply as Felice Giardini, was an Italian violin virtuoso, composer, teacher, and orchestral leader who became a major figure in eighteenth-century London musical life. Born in Turin in 1716, he received musical training in Italy and worked in opera orchestras before establishing an international reputation as a violinist. He settled in England around 1750 and spent much of the next four decades performing, directing opera and concert ensembles, teaching, and composing instrumental and theatrical music.

Giardini's best-known contribution to English-language hymnody is the melody later called ITALIAN HYMN. It was written for Come, Thou Almighty King and first appeared in the opening fascicle of Martin Madan's A Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, issued sometime between about 1760 and 1763; the complete collection was published in 1769. The tune was originally labeled HYMN TO THE TRINITY and later became known as ITALIAN HYMN, MOSCOW, and TRINITY.

Giardini also composed operas, violin concertos, chamber works, and other sacred melodies. After leaving England he spent time in Italy and later traveled to Russia, where he died in Moscow in 1796. No sufficiently reliable evidence establishes a denominational affiliation for him.