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Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Luigi Legnani
Person · male · Kingdom of Italy · Ferrara · born 1790 · died 1877 · recording since 1998
Italian musician (1790-1877)
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Also known as ルイジ・レニャーニ · Луиджи Леньяни
Timeline
7 events▣ Album 4◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1790s
1870s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: 36 Caprices, op. 20 / Fantasia, op. 19
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2010s
Biography
English biography344 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1333856539
Biography
Luigi Rinaldo Legnani (7 November 1790 – 5 August 1877) was an Italian virtuoso guitarist, singer, composer and luthier.
Life
Born in Ravenna, Legnani was trained as a string player while very young but dedicated himself to guitar and voice. His debut as an operatic tenor was in Ravenna in 1807; his singing career spanned 17 years. His career as a guitarist began with a concert in Milan in 1819, and continued with the 1822 concerts in Vienna and return visits in 1833 and 1839. He tried to continue the guitar tradition established there by Mauro Giuliani.
Music
Legnani is perhaps best known for his 36 Caprices op. 20 for the guitar, which cover all the major and minor keys, and which were probably inspired by Paganini's 24 Caprices for the violin. He and Paganini were friends from the 1830s; while it was once thought that he and Paganini performed together in public (Powroźniak mentions a concert in Northern Italy in 1837), there is no evidence to support this claim. After the 1850s Legnani retired from active performance and became an instrument maker, concentrating on guitars and violins. The "Legnani model" guitar was popular in Central Europe through the middle of the nineteenth century.
Legnani composed some 250 works, which were published in his lifetime throughout many of the major publishing houses in Europe. He died in Ravenna.
Luthier
As a regular visitor to Vienna, Legnani cooperated with Johann Georg Stauffer and his son Anton to make guitars according to Legnani's design, to be followed by a number of other luthiers ("Nach dem Modell des Luigi Legnani" / "after the model of Luigi Legnani").
Later he began making his own guitars, and some of his instruments still exist:
Guitar by Legnani
Guitar of Legnani (ca.1870)
There is some confusion regarding the luthierie of Legnani, as there seems to have been a second (earlier) Luigi Legnani, an apprentice of Zosimo Bergonzi.
Sergio Monaldini affirms clearly that there is no reliable evidence that Legnani ever built a guitar or a violin, and there is no guitar signed by him.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 5 | 78.9th |
| Studio albums | 5 | 84.6th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 7 | 82.6th |
| Recording span (years) | -121 | 4.6th |
| Genres | 0 | 0th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (5 release groups · 5 studio albums)
Albums · 5
36 Caprices, op. 20 / Fantasia, op. 19
1998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 37 tracks · 1:10:57
1Fantasia, op. 199:27236 Caprices, op. 20: Andante2:17336 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro0:51436 Caprices, op. 20: Moderato2:06536 Caprices, op. 20: Allegretto1:09636 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro molto1:27736 Caprices, op. 20: Maestoso1:35836 Caprices, op. 20: Prestissimo1:31936 Caprices, op. 20: Andante3:081036 Caprices, op. 20: Largo2:201136 Caprices, op. 20: Allegretto con moto1:331236 Caprices, op. 20: Andante1:431336 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro non tanto1:071436 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro moderato1:341536 Caprices, op. 20: Largo assai2:391636 Caprices, op. 20: Presto1:151736 Caprices, op. 20: Andante sostenuto1:591836 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro1:311936 Caprices, op. 20: Maestoso2:442036 Caprices, op. 20: Allegretto grazioso2:182136 Caprices, op. 20: Marziale2:472236 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro giusto0:482336 Caprices, op. 20: Adagio2:512436 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro maestoso1:172536 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro molto1:102636 Caprices, op. 20: Andante grazioso2:082736 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro giusto0:532836 Caprices, op. 20: Allegretto espressivo1:302936 Caprices, op. 20: Largo1:423036 Caprices, op. 20: Prestissimo0:443136 Caprices, op. 20: Maestoso2:043236 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro1:203336 Caprices, op. 20: Largo1:443436 Caprices, op. 20: Pollacca1:183536 Caprices, op. 20: Allegro maestoso1:183636 Caprices, op. 20: Larghetto cantabile2:093736 Caprices, op. 20: Moderato1:002017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 55 tracks · 1:18:46
1L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Gran Sinfonia, op. 2: Largo1:422L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Gran Sinfonia, op. 2: Allegro spiritoso6:513Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Overture, op. 202: Andante3:154Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Overture, op. 202: Allegro vivace4:255L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act I: Duetto "Ai capricci della sorte", op. 5: Allegretto3:436L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act I: Duetto "Ai capricci della sorte", op. 5: Allegro2:257L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act I: Cavatina "Languir per una bella", op. 7: Andante grazioso1:258L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act I: Cavatina "Languir per una bella", op. 7: Allegretto3:119L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act II: Coro e rondo "Pensa alla patria", op. 8: Allegro maestoso0:5010L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act II: Coro e rondo "Pensa alla patria", op. 8: Moderato1:4011L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini): Act II: Coro e rondo "Pensa alla patria", op. 8: Allegro3:1712Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Tema. Allegro0:3713Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Variation 10:3314Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Variation 20:5015Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Variation 30:2816Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Variation 40:4417Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Variation 5. Largo1:5118Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Variation 6. Allegro0:5019Variations on "O quante lagrime" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 18: Coda1:0920Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Introduzione. Largo cantabile1:2521Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Tema. Allegro moderato1:0822Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Variation 1. Più lento1:0623Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Variation 2. Più lento0:5124Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Variation 3. Tempo I0:5325Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Variation 41:0126Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Variation 5. Minore, un poco più moderato2:2727Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Variation 6. Allegro brillante1:2228Introduction and Variations on "Sorte secondami" from Rossini's "Zelmira", op. 21: Coda1:2429Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Tema. Vivace0:3930Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Variation 10:4231Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Variation 20:4732Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Variation 30:4633Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Variation 40:4834Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Variation 5. Largo3:4635Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Variation 6. Vivace0:4536Variations on "La mia spada, e la più fida" from Rossini's "La donna del lago", op. 24: Coda1:1537Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Introduzione1:1338Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Tema. Andantino0:3639Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Variation 10:3440Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Variation 20:3541Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Variation 30:3542Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Variation 40:3343Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Variation 51:0244Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Variation 60:5645Variations on "Non più mesta accanto al fuoco" from Rossini's "La Cenerentola", op. 30: Coda1:2746Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Largo marziale0:5547Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Tema. Andante0:4348Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Variation 10:5749Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Variation 20:5550Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Variation 30:5151Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Variation 4. Allegretto0:5752Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Variation 51:0253Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Largo cantabile1:4054Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Variation 60:5555Variations on "Cara, per te quest'anima" from Rossini's "Armida": Coda1:292018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 59 tracks · 1:12:59
1Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Largo cantabile1:382Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Tema0:373Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Variation 10:394Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Variation 20:345Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Variation 30:396Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Variation 40:377Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Variation 50:428Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Larghetto2:279Terremoto con variazioni, op. 1: Variation 61:5010Gran ricercario o studio, op. 38:3811Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Tema0:4212Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 10:4213Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 20:4014Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 30:5515Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 40:4116Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 50:4117Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 60:4718Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Trio andantino0:4819Tema con variazioni sul terzetto "Pria che l'impegno" (Weigl), op. 4: Variation 70:4820Gran capriccio, op. 6: I. Largo1:5521Gran capriccio, op. 6: II. Allegro deciso4:4122Gran capriccio, op. 6: III. Più mosso2:0223Scherzo ossia quattro variazioni, op. 10: Tema0:3324Scherzo ossia quattro variazioni, op. 10: Variation 10:3225Scherzo ossia quattro variazioni, op. 10: Variation 20:3326Scherzo ossia quattro variazioni, op. 10: Variation 30:3227Scherzo ossia quattro variazioni, op. 10: Variation 40:3228Scherzo ossia quattro variazioni, op. 10: Coda0:3829Rondeau pour la guitarre, op. 11: Largo1:2230Rondeau pour la guitarre, op. 11: Rondò: Allegretto3:5931Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Largo0:4932Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Tema - Allegretto0:2833Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 10:2634Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 20:2735Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 30:2536Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 40:2737Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 50:2738Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 60:3039Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 70:2940Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 80:5441Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 90:3442Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 100:3243Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 110:3244Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Larghetto espressivo1:5245Gran variazioni sopra un motivo tirolese, op. 12: Variation 121:3046Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Allegro2:2347Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Tema con variazioni: Andantino grazioso0:5948Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 10:4849Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 21:0650Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 31:0451Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 40:4952Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 51:0653Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 60:5254Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 70:5255Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 80:5256Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 90:5857Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Largo cantabile4:4658Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Variation 101:5759Gran variazioni sul duetto "Nel cor più non mi sento" nell'opera "La molinara" (Paisiello), op. 16: Coda: Allegro1:41Complete Music for Guitar Solo
2019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 50 tracks · 3:28:08
1Sonate in B Minor, Op. 23: I. Presto - Fugato5:162Sonate in B Minor, Op. 23: II. Menuetto3:203Sonate in B Minor, Op. 23: III. Rondò - Allegro non tanto5:594Grande Sonate No. 1: I. Allegro maestoso7:155Grande Sonate No. 1: II. Andante molto2:376Grande Sonate No. 1: III. Rondò capriccioso7:567Grande Sonate No. 2: I. Moderato7:438Grande Sonate No. 2: II. Andante con espressione3:189Grande Sonate No. 2: III. Variations sur l'air allemande par Haydn "Liebes Mädchen hör mir zu, lach dir noch was fragen"9:0310Grande Serenade, Op. 11: I. Allegro moderato2:2311Grande Serenade, Op. 11: II. Menuetto et trio2:0412Grande Serenade, Op. 11: III. Andantino1:2913Grande Serenade, Op. 11: IV. Menuetto - A la polacca3:4214Grande Serenade, Op. 11: V. Thème et variations7:2915Sonate No. 1, Op. 31: I. Allegro moderato8:0516Sonate No. 1, Op. 31: II. Menuetto et trio3:2217Sonate No. 1, Op. 31: III. Rondò - Allegretto3:0618Sonate No. 2, Op. 31: I. Allegro maestoso4:2519Sonate No. 2, Op. 31: II. Menuetto et trio2:2220Sonate No. 2, Op. 31: III. Variations sur l'air "Vive Henri IV"2:5621Sonate No. 3, Op. 31: I. Allegro moderato4:1822Sonate No. 3, Op. 31: II. Menuetto et trio3:2923Sonate No. 3, Op. 31: III. Rondò - Un poco andantino, con moto2:4424Sonate No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 31: I. Allegro moderato7:2325Sonate No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 31: II. Scherzo et trio3:5226Sonate No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 31: III. Capriccio2:4827Sonate No. 5, Op. 31: I. Allegro moderato4:2728Sonate No. 5, Op. 31: II. Menuetto et trio2:3629Sonate No. 5, Op. 31: III. Rondò - Allegro2:5930Sonate No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 31: I. Allegro non molto3:2231Sonate No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 31: II. Scherzo et trio2:3232Sonate No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 31: III. Finale - Allegretto4:03336 Variations, Op. 13 on an aria from "La Molinara" by G. Paisiello6:1634Fantaisie in C Major, Op. 4: I. Largo, Intermezzo8:31359 Variationen, Op. 7 über das Volkslied "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser"9:2636Menuetto No. 1 et trio, Op. 152:4737Menuetto No. 2 et trio, Op. 153:0638Menuetto No. 3 et trio, Op. 152:3239Menuetto No. 4 et trio, Op. 152:1640Menuetto No. 5 et trio, Op. 153:2341Menuetto No. 6 et trio, Op. 152:2542Menuetto No. 7 et trio, Op. 151:5843Menuetto No. 8 et trio, Op. 151:5644Menuetto No. 9 et trio, Op. 152:5045Menuetto No. 10 et trio, Op. 152:5646Menuetto No. 11 et trio, Op. 152:2147Menuetto No. 12 et Trio, Op. 151:36486 Variations, Op. 146:1149Sonate facile, Op. 16: I. Tempo giusto5:1050Sonate facile, Op. 16: II. Menuetto4:05— · studio album
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Tracklist · 36 tracks · 1:02:47
136 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 1, Andante2:19236 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 2, Allegro0:51336 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 3, Moderato1:37436 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 4, Allegretto1:02536 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 5, Allegro Molto1:25636 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 6, Maestoso2:38736 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 7, Prestissimo1:29836 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 8, Andante2:44936 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 9, Largo2:581036 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 10, Allegretto Con Moto1:551136 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 11, Andante1:381236 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 12, Allegro Non Tanto1:131336 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 13, Allegro Moderato1:321436 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 14, Largo Assai2:361536 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 15, Presto1:251636 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 16, Andante Sostenuto1:561736 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 17, Allegro1:311836 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 18, Maestoso2:281936 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 19, Allegretto Grazioso1:562036 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 20, Marziale3:422136 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 21, Allegro Giusto0:502236 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 22, Adagio2:392336 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 23, Allegro Maestoso1:242436 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 24, Allegro Molto1:062536 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 25, Andante Grazioso1:512636 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 26, Allegro Giusto0:552736 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 27, Allegretto Espressivo1:272836 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 28, Largo2:052936 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 29, Prestissimo0:433036 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 30, Maestoso1:443136 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 31, Allegro1:203236 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 32, Largo1:453336 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 33, Polacca1:153436 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 34, Allegro Maestoso1:493536 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 35, Larghetto Cantabile1:593636 Caprices, Op. 20: No. 36, Moderato1:00
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Luigi Legnani head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 5 | 78.9th |
| Studio albums | 5 | 84.6th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 7 | 82.6th |
| Recording span (years) | -121 | 4.6th |
| Genres | 0 | 0th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cf941a21-ddad-4fcb-a6fd-271b271051bbdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cf941a21-ddad-4fcb-a6fd-271b271051bbcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1876212seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Legnanibiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Legnani
Why this artist is in the database
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Wikidata: Q1876212 · MusicBrainz: cf941a21-ddad-4fcb-a6fd-271b271051bb