In Locatelli's Christmas Concerto, the composer used a second viola to increase the sound volume, resulting in an unusually full string sound.
Historical Context
Records from the Pistoia Cathedral show that during performances of Manfredini's Concerti grossi, the 'Concertino' was hidden near the ceiling vault, enhancing the contrast between the orchestra's 'fullness' and the 'tenderness' of the 'Concertino'.
Performer Biography
The Kölner Kammerorchester (Cologne Chamber Orchestra) was founded in 1923 with the aim of historically informed performance of older music.
Composer Biography
Pietro Antonio Locatelli, a significant violin virtuoso, settled in Amsterdam in 1729 as a publisher, which was then a major center for music printing.
Historical Context
Around 1700, the terms 'sonata' and 'concerto' in instrumental music were largely interchangeable and did not yet define clear formal types.
Compositional Technique
The 'Concerto grosso' was not a genre designation but indicated a larger orchestral setting, with Arcangelo Corelli's Op. 6 serving as a model for its rondo-like alternation between tutti and concertino passages.
Compositional Technique
Locatelli's Concerti grossi Op. 1, like Corelli's Op. 6, include eight 'Concerti da camera' (with dance movements) and four 'Concerti da chiesa' (with a slow first movement), with the eighth concerto in both collections intended for Christmas.
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