Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father, reported that his son performed for Sammartini and other distinguished people in Milan in 1770, amazing them.
Composition History
Sammartini was a prolific composer, writing around 450 vocal and instrumental works, including 67 surviving symphonies.
Composer Biography
Giovanni Battista Sammartini, the composer, was the seventh of eight children and likely studied with his father, Alexis Saint-Martin, a French oboist who settled in Milan.
Historical Context
Sammartini influenced and encouraged many leading musicians, including Christoph Willibald Gluck, Johann Christian Bach, and Luigi Boccherini.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Sammartini is considered a pioneer in instrumental music and a precursor to the Mannheim school and Joseph Haydn, reflecting the shift from Baroque to Classical techniques.
Composer Biography
Sammartini was active as a composer by the 1720s and became maestro di cappella of the Congregation of the Most Holy Sepulchre in 1728, a position he held for life.
Recording & Production
The Aradia Ensemble, led by Kevin Mallon, performs these symphonies on period instruments, tuned to A=415Hz.
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Holzbauer: 5 Symphonies
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