... from a form called the trio sonata, which consisted of a violin, viola, cello and harpsichord. In the early days composers such as Gabrieli would simply arrange trio sonatas for larger ensembles, sometimes loosely defined as concerto grossi. However the first composer to write concerto grossi as pieces in their own right and with a standard formula was Corelli. With his publishing of his opus 6 (12 concerto grossi).he soon became a cult figure in both his home country in Italy and elsewhere in Europe, even after his death in 1713. Although today many would find the music of Corelli monotonous and conservative, it is important to remember that his music was the height of innovation for his day. Features such as contrast between soloist(s) and the orchestra were previously unheard of, as was the ritornello form. He incorporated figured bass into many of his concertos, as well as innovative ...

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