Italian composer and violinist. He became a friend of Haydn (with whom he perhaps studied) while engaged as a violinist in Prince Paul Anton Esterházy's orchestra (1756-90); in 1802 he was named director of chamber music to the Esterházy family. Haydn dedicated violin concertos to him. Besides a few symphonies and violin concertos, he wrote about thirty string quartets, twenty-four baryton trios (for Prince Anton, a baryton player), duos concertants for violin, violin sonatas.