Francesco Petrini

German-born composer and harpist (born 1744 in Berlin - died 1819 in Paris). Son of an Italian musician who served as harpist at the Prussian court in Berlin, Petrini studied harp with his father, then played the harp with the Mecklenburg-Schwerin court orchestra in Ludwigslust from 1765-1769. From there he moved to Paris, where he worked as a harp instructor. Among others, he taught Philipp Joseph Hinner, Queen Marie Antoinette's harp teacher. In 1770, he debuted as harpist in the Concert Spirituel series in Paris. Sponsored by the Princess de Lamballe, a confidante of Queen Marie Antoinette, and others, Petrini published at least 46 compositions for the harp. He also wrote several works on harp harmonics, including Sistème de l'Harmonie (1795) and Nouveau Sistème de l'Harmonie (1796).