Draghi, Giovanni Baptista

A composer and musician of the Seventeenth Century, who was born in Italy, but adopted the English style of composition so entirely that he is generally regarded as an English composer. He is believed to have been a brother of Antonio Draghi and was musicmaster to Queen Anne of England and probably to her sister, Queen Mary. He settled in England about the middle of the Seventeenth Century and was appointed organist to the Queen in 1677. He composed the music, with Locke, to Shadwell's Psyche; D'Urfey's Wonder of the Sun; the music to Dryden's ode, From Harmony; and songs without number, many of which were very tuneful. Draghi wrote much for the harpsichord and lived to witness the introduction into England of the Italian Opera at the beginning of the following century.