Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713)

Arcangelo Corelli was born the 5th child to wealthy landowners in 1653 in Italy and studied mainly instrumental music in Bologna, Italy which was a center for musical development at the time. He is thought to have studied with Giovanni Benvenuli and Leonardo Brugololi. Corelli became well known in Bologna for his composing and for his talents as a violinist. He subsequently moved to Rome where he published his first book of trio sonatas, Opus 1 Trio Sonatas, which he dedicated to his patron, Queen Christina of Sweden. He led numerous large orchestras including one consisting of 150 string players for Queen Christina. He also traveled throughout Europe on quite a few violin tours and he worked for many Roman patrons including Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili and Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni.

This period was marked by substantial improvements in the instruments themselves. The violin was no exception and was furthered through the craftsmanship of violinmakers like Antonio Stradivarius. Corelli seized the opportunity and wrote tremendous works for the violin stretching its new limits. Corelli is now remembered as the “Founder of the Modern Violin Technique”, and he taught promising pupils like Antonio Vivaldi. While he is known as composer, teacher, and performer, Corelli is probably most know for his achievements concerning the concerto grossi form. This form alternated a small instrumental section with a large instrumental section creating magnificent dynamics. Corelli took this form one step further by limiting both sections to strings. He became famous for alternating the small group (2 violins, and a cello) with the larger group (a full string orchestra).