Pietro Locatelli

Pietro Antonio Locatelli (1695-1764) was an important Italian composer and violinist of the early 18th century. The contrasting influences of Corelli and Vivaldi can be found in his music, which was primarily composed for strings, though on occasion he wrote for wind instruments. Yet because he was a virtuoso of the violin, his 12 concertos and 24 caprices for that instrument receive particular attention, especially from students. Locatelli spent the years after 1729 in Amsterdam, involved in composing, teaching, and publishing music. His chief innovation was the use of written cadenzas in his concertos, to replace the traditional improvised solos.