A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Torelli, Giuseppe

TORELLI, Giuseppe, violinist and composer, was born about the middle of the 17th century. He lived for many years in Bologna as leader of a church orchestra, but in 1701 accepted the post of leader of the band of the Markgraf of Brandenburg-Anspach at Anspach in Germany, where he died in 1708. To him is generally ascribed the invention of the 'Concerto'—or, more correctly speaking, the application of the sonata-form to concerted music. His most important work, the Concerti grossi, op. 8, were published at Bologna, 1709, three years earlier than Corelli's Concerti grossi. They are written for 2 obligato violins and stringed orchestra, and are said clearly to present the main features of the concerto-form, as used by Corelli, Handel, and others. According to Fétis, eight works of his have been published—all in concerted style, for 2, 3, or 4 stringed instruments.

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