VERACINI: Sonatas Opp. 1-3 [CD de audio] El Arte Mvsico and Veracini

Antonio Veracini (1659-1745), a skilled violinist, was one of the most notable composers of his generation, along with Arcangelo Corelli and Giuseppe Torelli. He was a notably distinguished figure in the musical culture of Florence in the late 17th century, playing at the opulent court festivals of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was educated by his father, Francesco di Niccolò Veracini, a noted violist. This new recording presents the three published collections of sonatas: opus 1 and 3, which contain sonatas in the sonata da chiesa style, multi-movement sonatas with alternating slow and fast movements, written for 1 or 2 violins, cello and basso continuo, and Opus 2, sonatas for solo violin: music of great richness and complexity, and in the slow movements of exquisite and refined beauty. Excellent performances by Spanish early music group El Arte Mvsico, specializing in historically informed performance of 17th and 18th century music for string instruments. Extensive content notes written by a musicologist are included in the booklet.