Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713); ITA

Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713) was an Italian violinist and composer whose instrumental music exerted a fundamental influence on the Baroque style throughout Europe. Born in Fusignano, near Ravenna, he studied violin in Bologna before establishing himself in Rome by the 1670s. There he became one of the city’s most admired violinists and worked under the patronage of powerful figures including Queen Christina of Sweden, Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili, and Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. Corelli directed ensembles for major Roman occasions and was renowned for the discipline and sonority he obtained from string players. Unlike many contemporaries, he concentrated almost entirely on instrumental music and published relatively few works, revising them carefully before publication. His reputation spread far beyond Italy during his lifetime, and his compositions became models for violinists and composers across Europe.

Corelli’s six published collections helped codify both the trio sonata and the solo violin sonata and established influential principles of tonal harmony, sequence, and string writing. His Sonate da chiesa, Op. 1 and later trio-sonata collections distinguish and refine the church and chamber sonata traditions, while the Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 became a cornerstone of the instrument’s repertory. The posthumously published Concerti grossi, Op. 6 provided an enduring model for dialogue between a small concertino group and a larger string ensemble. The collection includes the celebrated Christmas Concerto, whose pastoral finale became especially famous. Corelli favored balance, noble melodic lines, controlled virtuosity, and lucid harmonic movement rather than theatrical extravagance. His works were studied and imitated by Handel, Geminiani, Vivaldi, and many others, making his influence on eighteenth-century instrumental music exceptionally broad and lasting.

###

Corelli, Arcangelo (b Fusignano, nr. Milan, 1653; d Rome, 1713). It. violinist and composer. By 1675 was in Rome, where he became one of leading violinists. Joined court of Queen Christina 1679-86. From 1687 was under patronage of Cardinal Pamphili, and from 1690 under that of Cardinal Ottoboni. Lived in cardinal's palace and died a rich man with a fine art coll. His importance as a composer lies in his sonatas da camera and concerti grossi from which the solo sonata and the orch. concs. of Handel and Bach evolved. They are beautiful in themselves, notably the Christmas Concerto. His works are grouped under 6 opus nos.

1. 12 Sonatas a tre; 2. 12 Sonatas da camera a tre; 3. 12 Sonatas a tre; 4. 12 Sonatas da camera a tre; 5. 12 Sonatas for vn. or vn. and cembalo (also arr. as concerti grossi by Geminiani). 6. 12 Concerti grossi.

Copyright © 1996 Oxford University Press - By permission of Oxford University Press

Recommended Oxford books

###

Read biography at allmusic.com.