Studying with Tartini from the age of twelve until the age of eighteen, Nardini became one of the finest violinists during his lifetime. Arguably his abilities were more focused on touch than brilliance but contemporaries, L. Mozart, Gyrowetz and Schubert, agreed that he was the master of the adagio. They disagreed concerning his virtuosity. He was a fine performer as well as an excellent teacher. Nardini served for periods of time in Vienna, Dresden, and Stuttgart but was called to Florence to be at his teacher's side when Tartini was deathly ill. He accepted the position which Tartini had held upon the senior's death -- music director of the court in Florence. He served there for twenty three years. Like his playing the compositions which Nardini scored for the violin were not difficult but demanded specific excellence particularly in bowing and phrasing. Most of his sonatas for the violin were arranged in a slow-fast-fast manner initially exposing the expressive adagio penchant for which he was famous. Second movements of the sonatas were allegro and the last movements were usually dance suites. Nardini was the last member of a group of stylists who emphasized the expressiveness of the violin; this was eventually overcome by pretentious bravura. One of his many students was Thomas Linley who was a friend of W.A. Mozart. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi
