Giuseppe Acerbi

Giuseppe Acerbi (3 May 1773 – 25 August 1846) was an Italian naturalist, explorer and composer.

Biography

Giuseppe Acerbi was born on 3 May 1773, in Castel Goffredo, in Lombardy. In 1798, Acerbi traveled to Lapland, publishing his experiences in Travels through Sweden, Finland and Lapland to the North Cape in the years 1798 and 1799 (1802). Some of his works can be found in the New York Society Library in New York City. He also written other works along with compositions that became popular.

During his travels, he collected some Finnish folk melodies and religious songs, one of which he used in a Clarinet Concerto. This was the first Finnish melody to be used in serious music.

In 1836, Acerbi retired from his travels and career. He returned to his hometown Castel Goffredo. He began to organize and administer his notes and collections from his travels. He never completed the task; Giuseppe Acerbi died in his hometown of Castel Goffredo, Italy on 25 August 1846. He was seventy-three years old.

Education

Giuseppe Acerbi was educated by both his parents at a young age. As he got older, he eventually was taught by a tutor that demanded Acerbi to learn Italian, French, German and English as an addition of knowing his native Lombard language. He also learned Latin to add to his list of languages. He was taught about classic music, art, and become heavily involved with the sciences. At the age of twenty one, he graduated and received a degree of law from University at Pavia.

Travels

Since the start of his travels, the Finnish coast was not what Acerbi expected. From the beginning, Acerbi hated it. He was shocked by the culture of the people and did not enjoy it.