B. Marcello - Concerto a Cinque in E Minor

BENEDETTO MARCELLO (1686-1739)
*solo violin part reconstructed by Rinaldo Alessandrini

Concerto a cinque for violin, strings, and basso continuo in E minor

1. Adagio e staccato

2. Vivace

3. Adagio e staccato

4. Prestissimo

Performed by Cocnerto Italiano
Directed by Rinaldo Alessadrini

*Benedetto Marcello was an Italian composer, writer, advocate, magistrate, and teacher.

Born in Venice, Benedetto Marcello was a member of a noble family and his compositions are frequently referred to as Patrizio Veneto. Although he was a music student of Lotti and Francesco Gasparini, his father wanted Benedetto to devote himself to law.

Indeed, Benedetto combined a life in law and public service with one in music. In 1711 he was appointed member of the Council of Forty (in Venice's central government), and in 1730 he went to Pola as Provveditore (district governor).

Due to his health having been "impaired by the climate" of Istria, Marcello retired after eight years to Brescia in the capacity of Camerlengo and there he died.

Benedetto Marcello was the brother of Alessandro Marcello (1669 -1747), also a composer of some note.

A musical rival of Antonio Vivaldi, Marcello published a satirical pamphlet entitled "Il Teatro all Moda" in which he vents his disdain for the state of "opera seria", and attacks Antonio Vivaldi and other major figures in Venetian opera at the time.

**This piece was transcribed for harpsichord by J.S. Bach (BWV 981). Bach's transcription was used as a basis for Rinaldo Alessandrini to reconstruct the solo violin part which was lost.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• baroque
• classical
• oboe
• concerto
• alessandro
• marcello
• antonio
• vivaldi
• johann
• sebastian
• bach

[ShinAkiraX]

do you also have his concerto a cinque in g minor?

[HARMONICO101]

No. This is the only piece of Benedetto's that I have.

[enzerinckful]

wow, very nice. impressive, amazing.

[bersa888]

at about 2:10 you'll hear a variant of the same fugue subject used by Vivaldi in his D minor concerto from L'Estro Armonico...

[61rmd1]

really beautiful

i guess it's one of the 12 concertos of op 1

up to now, it has been quite difficult to find something of this great author...

[byf43]

Very nice. I also didn't hear Benedetto before. But I still prefer his brother Alessandro. His oboe concert is my favorite :-)

[jasjjb]

Wonderful - such lovely and melodious music - I agree with berlinman46 - we are in your debt for sure - thank you !

[berlinman46]

Hi I have never heard of Benedetto Marcello before what wonderful music, many thanks as allways for the great postings. We are in your debt my dear friend, peace and love Paulx