Program Notes

The Spirit of Arcangelo Corelli

by Frank Nowell

“He was composer, conductor, contractor, soloist, orchestra leader, and musical personality all rolled up in one — the seventeenth century equivalent of a modern bandleader.” (John Spitzer and Neal Zaslaw, The Birth of the Orchestra). Arcangelo Corelli was an extraordinary virtuoso who dominated the flourishing musical life of Rome. Together with Lully in Paris, he is often credited with creating the institution that would evolve into the modern orchestra. He advanced and perfected the concerto grosso style (characterized by lively interplay between a small concertino group and the larger orchestra) that would remain an animating force throughout the Baroque era. And he developed a musical language that in many ways we continue to speak today.

Corelli’s circle of influence was expansive, extending to such Baroque luminaries as Couperin, Bach, Rameau, and Telemann. This recording focuses more specifically on his circle in England, where there was a continuous demand for music in Corelli’s style. Spurred on by the popularity of his signature opus-5 violin sonatas and opus-6 concerti grossi, two generations of composers living in London created their own collections in Corelli's style. This repertoire is among our favorite music to play, and we hope you enjoy our own collection celebrating the spirit of Arcangelo Corelli.

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