Giuseppe Torelli's Contribution To The Development Of The Instrumental Concerto

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Giuseppe Torelli, baroque violinist and composer, is most known for his contributions to the development of the instrumental concerto. Torelli is also noted as being the most prolific composer of baroque trumpet repertoire, with Concerto for Trumpet in D Major being one of his most renowned works that is still widely performed to this day.
Although the foundation of his career is as a virtuoso violinist and composer of string chamber works, his involvement at S. Petronio led him to contributing immensely to the development of trumpet repertoire. While it is not known whether he studied under Leonardo Brugnoli or Bartolomeo Laurenti while building his career as a performer, they were both S. Petronio players and ultimately led to his involvement …show more content…

His appearances at S. Petronio become less consistent between 1690 and 1695 due to his frequent absences- approximately eighteen months during a nine-year period. During these absences he would travel to other places such as Parma and Modena to perform as a violinist. The S. Petronio orchestra was later disbanded in January, 1696 due to economic reasons.

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During his time as a performer as S. Petronio he was still busy composing a wide variety of works. His first two published works, the ten Sonate a 3, for violin and basso continuo, and 12 Concerto da camera, for two violins and basso continuo, appeared in 1686- shortly after his arrival in Bologna. His third collection of works, 12 Sinfonie, was published in 1687 for two to four non-specific instruments. His fourth collection, 12 Concertino per camera, was written for violin and cello and was published in …show more content…

Petronio ultimately led him to becoming the most prolific Italian composer of baroque trumpet pieces. He contributed over three dozen pieces variously entitled sonata, sinfonia, or concerto, for one to four trumpets, to the collection of trumpet repertoire. All eight of his collections of concerts, sinfonias, and sonatas were published chronologically, making it easy to trace his progress as a composer and how he contributed to the concerto and concerto grosso genres over his career. Torelli’s works are well preserved and those that were not published remain in manuscript. Although Giuseppe Torelli built his career as a virtuoso violinist and composer of string chamber works he contributed immensely to the world of trumpet literature to the point where he has become a household name in the realm of modern trumpet

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