Arcangelo Corelli

As a violinist and composer, Arcangelo Corelli was a master of the Baroque period but also predictive of the coming Classical era. His work helped codify many of the conventions we take for granted today, from the constitution of the modern string orchestra to the embrace of the tonal system over the modal system of composition. His innovations employed complex polyphony, melodic expression and concision, harmonic surprises, unique textural combinations and unexpected key changes. Corelli was hugely influential to almost every composer who came after him, including Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann and Handel. He was born in Fusignano, in what is now Italy, in 1653, but little can be confirmed about his early life. By the mid 1670s, he was performing in Rome, where he quickly began distinguishing himself. His Trio Sonatas, Op. 3 (published in 1689) and Concerti Grossi Op. 6 (published in 1714) were among his most influential works, while his violin sonatas underline the way his writing eschewed Baroque extravagance for the sake of melodic elegance, showcasing the violinist’s virtuosity. By the time he died in Rome in 1713, Corelli was celebrated as a musical giant and had become ubiquitous in the highest circles of society.