Giuseppe Valentini (14 December 1681 – November 1753), nicknamed ''Straccioncino'' (Little Ragamuffin), was an Italian

violin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...

ist,

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or w ...

, and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Def ...

, though he is known chiefly as a composer of inventive instrumental music. He studied under Giovanni Bononcini in Rome between 1692 and 1697. From 1710 to 1727 he served as ''‘Suonator di Violino, e Componitore di Musica’'' to Prince

Michelangelo Caetani ''This article contains material translated from the Italian Wikipedia's version of this page.'' Michelangelo Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta and Prince of Teano (Rome, 20 March 1804 – Rome, 12 December 1882), was a notable political figure, goldsmi ...

. He also succeeded Corelli as director of the concertino at

San Luigi dei Francesi The Church of St. Louis of the French ( it, San Luigi dei Francesi, french: Saint Louis des Français, la, S. Ludovici Francorum de Urbe) is a Roman Catholic church in Rome, not far from Piazza Navona. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary ...

, from 1710 to 1741. Though during his lifetime overshadowed by the likes of Corelli,

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widesprea ...

, and Locatelli, his contribution to Italian

baroque music Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transit ...

is noteworthy, and many of his works were published throughout Europe.

Selected works

Instrumental Music

*op. 1: 12 Sinfonie (with Sinfonia a tre per il santissimo Natale Nr. 12) (1701 Rome) *op. 2: 7 Bizzarie per camera for 2 Violins, Viola and Basso continuo (1703 Rome) *op. 3: 12 Fantasie musicali for 2 Violins and Bass (1706 Rome) *op. 4: 7 Idee per camera for Violin and Basso continuo (1706 Rome) *op. 5: 12 Sonate a tre (Villeggiature armoniche) (1707 Rome) *op. 6: 6 Poesie: Concerti a 4 violini, violoncello e basso continuo (unpublished) *op. 7: 7 Concerto a Quattro Violini (

Concerti grossi The concerto grosso (; Italian for ''big concert(o)'', plural ''concerti grossi'' ) is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists (the '' concertino'') and full orchestra (the ''ripieno'', '' t ...

) (1710 Rome) *op. 8: 12 Allettamenti per camera (1714 Rome) *op. 9: 10 Concerti con ripieni (Concerti grossi) (1724 Amsterdam) *opp. 10–15: unpublished (promised in the preface to op. 8): ** Op. 10: onatea Violino solo con un secondo Violino a beneplacito ** Op. 11: I Pianti fortunati di Gileno Poemetto in Ottava Rima ** Op. 12: Idee a Violino solo a due e tre Corde ** Op. 13: Concerti grossi di Trombe, Obue e diversi altri Stromenti ** Op. 14: Salmi brevi a quattro per tutti i Vesperi ** Op. 15: Balletti *7 Concerti for 2 Violins, 2 Horns (Trombe da Caccia) and Basso Continuo (MS in Danish Royal Library)

Operas

*''La finta rapita'' (1714 Cisterna) *''La costanza in amore'' (1715 Cisterna)

Oratorios

*''Cantata per la natività della Beatissima Vergine (Son l'origine di tutti)'' (1723 Rome) *''Cantata in lode di Benedetto XIII (Amica e cara fede)'' (1724 Rome)

Sources

Opera at Stanford University
*Grove Music Online

Selected discography

*1717. Memories of a Journey to Italy. Pisendel, Vivaldi, Montanari, Fanfani, Valentini and Albinoni. Ensemble Scaramuccia. ( Snakewood Editions, 2018).

External links

*
Article about the violin sonata "La Montanari"
by Valentini Italian Roman Catholics Italian violinists Male violinists Italian male classical composers Italian Baroque composers Italian opera composers Male opera composers 1681 births 1753 deaths 18th-century Italian composers 18th-century Italian male musicians {{Italy-composer-stub