Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713) was an Italian
composer and violinist of the Baroque era. His music
was key in the development of the modern genres of
sonata and concerto, in establishing the preeminence of
the violin, and as the first coalescing of modern
tonality and functional harmony. He was trained in
Bologna and Rome and spent most of his career there
with the protection of wealthy patrons. Though his
entire production is limited to just six published
collections — five of which are tr...(+)
Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713) was an Italian
composer and violinist of the Baroque era. His music
was key in the development of the modern genres of
sonata and concerto, in establishing the preeminence of
the violin, and as the first coalescing of modern
tonality and functional harmony. He was trained in
Bologna and Rome and spent most of his career there
with the protection of wealthy patrons. Though his
entire production is limited to just six published
collections — five of which are trio sonatas or solo
and one of concerti grossi — he achieved great fame
and success throughout Europe, in the process
crystallizing widely influential musical models.
His writing was admired for its balance, refinement,
sumptuous and original harmonies, for the richness of
the textures, for the majestic effect of the
theatricality and for its clear, expressive and
melodious polyphony, a perfect quality of classical
ideals, although belonging to the baroque epoch and
often employing resources typical of this school, such
as the exploration of dynamic and expressive contrasts,
but always tempered by a great sense of moderation. He
was the first to fully apply, with an expressive and
structuring purpose, the new tonal system, consolidated
after at least two hundred years of experimentation. As
a virtuoso violinist he was considered one of the
greatest of his generation and contributed, thanks to
the development of modern playing techniques and to his
many disciples scattered throughout Europe, to place
the violin among the most prestigious solo instruments
and was also a significant figure in the evolution of
the traditional orchestra.
A dominant figure in Roman musical life and
internationally highly regarded, he was desired by many
courts and was included in the most prestigious
artistic and intellectual society of his time, the
Pontifical Academy of Arcadia. He was known in his time
as "the new Orpheus", "the prince of musicians" and
other similar adjectives, great folklore was generated
around his figure and his fame did not diminish after
his death. Even today his work is the subject of a
voluminous critical bibliography and his sonatas are
still widely used in musical academies as didactic
material as well as pieces capable of affirming
themselves in today's concert repertoire. His position
in the history of Western music is considered crucial,
being recognized as one of the greatest masters at the
turn of the XVII and XVIII century, as well as one of
the earliest and greatest classicists.
The Concerto grosso in G Minor (Op. 6 No. 8), known
commonly as the "Christmas Concerto", was commissioned
by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and published posthumously
in 1714 as part of Corelli's Twelve concerti grossi,
Op. 6. The concerto bears the inscription Fatto per la
notte di Natale (made for the night of Christmas). Its
composition date is uncertain, but there is a record of
Corelli having performed a Christmas concerto in 1690
for the enjoyment of his new patron. The concerto is
scored for an ensemble consisting of two concertino
violins and cello, ripieno strings and continuo. The
work is structured as a concerto da chiesa, in this
case expanded from a typical four movement structure to
six: (I) Vivace, Grave, Arcate, sostenuto e come stà
(II) Allegro (III) Adagio, Allegro, Adagio in E? major
(IV) Vivace (V) Allegro & (VI) Largo (Pastorale ad
libitum) in G Major
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Concerto)
Although originally composed for Concertino Violins,
Cello, Ripieno Strings and Continuo, I created this
Interpretation of The Concerto Grosso in G Minor (Op. 6
No. 8) for String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC