l celebration feast. During his years in Lucca Luigi often took trips to Milan, where it is said that he arranged "the first public string quartet performance in 1765" (Sadie 825). In 1766 Boccherini and his quartet went on tour and ended up in Paris, France in 1767. Boccherini stayed in Paris at least until the summer of 1768. After Boccherini left Paris that summer his next journey was to Madrid where he stayed most of his life. During the first couple of years in Madrid Luigi composed works for string quartets and it was published in 1769. He also composed a sinfonia concertante for performance in Madrid's concert series during Lent 1770. In November of that same year Boccherini was appointed to the service of the Infante as composer and performer (virtuoso di camera e compositor di musica) and the obligation to compose exclusively for his employer. Most of Boccherini's works were published in Paris. In 1771 Boccherini married Clemintina Pelicho. Though she died in 1785. In 1786 Boccherini was appointed court composer to Fredrick Wilheim II of Prussia, and amateur cello player. "Shortly after that Boccherini left Spain to take up his new appointment, his German sojourn, it lasted until 1788" (Parker 28-29). After the death of Fredrick Wilheim II, Boccherini petitioned his successor for employment. On the 2nd of March 1798 the new King refused his application. At the end of 1798 Boccherini composed several pieces for guitar for the marquis. Boccherini spent the rest of his years in poverty, yet he did seem to keep himself quite busy composing and performing in the late 1790's. "The distress which he found in 1803 by Sophie Gailmna may have been the death of the Boccherini's daughters than the poverty situation. Boccherini died in Madrid on May 28, 1805. In 1927 his remains were transferred to Lucca and reentered with great solemnity. Boccherini was an exceptionally prolific composer of chamber music" (Slonimsky 188). Boccherini's list...
