Arcangelo Corelli
Corelli, Archangelo (b. Fusignano, 17 Feb 1653; d. Rome, 8 Jan 1713).
Italian composer and violinist. He studied in Bologna from 1666, and was admitted to the Accademia Filarmonica at 17. By 1675 he was in Rome, where he became the foremost violinist and a chamber musician to Queen Christina of Sweden, to whom he dedicated his 12 trio sonatas da chiesa op.1 (1681). His 12 trio sonatas da camera op.2 (1685) were dedicated to Cardinal Pamphili; Corelli was his music master, 1687-90. His next patron, Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, received the dedication of the trio sonatas op.4 (1694). Corcilli came to dominate Rome musical life, and also directed opera performances there and in Naples. After 1708 he retired from public view.
Corelli was the first composer to derive his fame exclusively from instrumental music. His works were immensely popular during his lifetime and long afterwards, and went through numerous reprints and arrangements (42 editions of the op.5 violin sonatas had appeared by 1800). They were seen as models of style for their purity and poise. His small output - six published sets and a few single pieces - contains innovations of fundamental importance to Baroque style, reconciling strict counterpoint and soloistic violin writing, and using sequential progressions and suspensions to give a notably modern sense of tonality. Distinctions between "church" (abstract) and "chamber" (dance) idioms are increasingly blurred in his sonatas. The op.6 concerti grossi (1714) resemble trio sonatas with orchestral reinforcement and echo effects. They were especially popular in England, preferred even to Handel's concertos well into the 19th century. There were many imitations of Corelli's music, notably of the folia variations in the violin sonata op.5 no.12 (1700), and some composers used his music as a springboard; Bach borrowed a theme from the trio sonata op.3 no.4 (1689) for an organ fugue. As a violinist Corelli was the finest, most influential teacher of his day; as an ensemble director he imposed high standards of discipline.
Italian composer and violinist. He studied in Bologna from 1666, and was admitted to the Accademia Filarmonica at 17. By 1675 he was in Rome, where he became the foremost violinist and a chamber musician to Queen Christina of Sweden, to whom he dedicated his 12 trio sonatas da chiesa op.1 (1681). His 12 trio sonatas da camera op.2 (1685) were dedicated to Cardinal Pamphili; Corelli was his music master, 1687-90. His next patron, Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, received the dedication of the trio sonatas op.4 (1694). Corcilli came to dominate Rome musical life, and also directed opera performances there and in Naples. After 1708 he retired from public view.
Corelli was the first composer to derive his fame exclusively from instrumental music. His works were immensely popular during his lifetime and long afterwards, and went through numerous reprints and arrangements (42 editions of the op.5 violin sonatas had appeared by 1800). They were seen as models of style for their purity and poise. His small output - six published sets and a few single pieces - contains innovations of fundamental importance to Baroque style, reconciling strict counterpoint and soloistic violin writing, and using sequential progressions and suspensions to give a notably modern sense of tonality. Distinctions between "church" (abstract) and "chamber" (dance) idioms are increasingly blurred in his sonatas. The op.6 concerti grossi (1714) resemble trio sonatas with orchestral reinforcement and echo effects. They were especially popular in England, preferred even to Handel's concertos well into the 19th century. There were many imitations of Corelli's music, notably of the folia variations in the violin sonata op.5 no.12 (1700), and some composers used his music as a springboard; Bach borrowed a theme from the trio sonata op.3 no.4 (1689) for an organ fugue. As a violinist Corelli was the finest, most influential teacher of his day; as an ensemble director he imposed high standards of discipline.
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