A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Jarnowick

JARNOWICK—whose real name, as he wrote it in Clement's Album, was Giovanni Marie Giornovichj, though commonly given as above—was one of the eminent violin-players of the last century; born at Palermo 1745, and a scholar of the famous Lolli. He made his début in Paris in 1770 at one of the Concerts Spirituels, and for some years was all the rage in that capital. Owing to some misbehaviour he left Paris in 1779 and entered the band of the King of Prussia, but his disputes with Duport drove him thence in 1783. He then visited Austria, Poland, Russia, and Sweden, and in 1791 arrived in London, where he gave his first concert on May 4. He had great success here, both as player and conductor. His insolence and conceit seem to have been unbounded, and to have brought him into disastrous collision with Viotti, a far greater artist than himself, and with J. B. Cramer—who went the length of calling him out, a challenge which Jarnowick would not accept—and even led him to some gross misconduct in the presence of the King and Duke of York. He died in Petersburg in 1804—it is said during a game of billiards. From the testimony of Kelly, Dittersdorf, and other musicians, it is not difficult to gather the characteristics of Jarnowick's playing. His tone was fine, though not strong; he played with accuracy and finish, and always well in tune. His bow-hand was light, and there was a grace and spirit about the whole performance, and an absence of effort, which put the hearer quite at ease. These qualities are not the highest, but they are highly desirable, and they seem to have been possessed in large measure by Jarnowick. In mind and morals he was a true pupil of Lolli.

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