Giuseppe Torelli

Giuseppe Torelli (1658-1709) was an Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era, noted for his essential role in the development of the solo concerto, concerto grosso, and chamber sonata forms. Torelli's career took him from Verona to Bologna, Anspach, and Vienna, and he once toured Germany in the company of the castrato Pistocchi. The chronological publication of his music in seven collections enables scholars to follow his advances in style and form. His interest in the trumpet resulted in sets of sinfonias and sonatas for the instrument, an unusual diversion for a composer usually associated with string music.