Chelleri: 6 Sonate Di Galanteria

Fortunato Chelleri was orphaned at an early age and was brought up by his uncle, Francesco Bazzani, maestro di cappella at Piacenza Cathedral, who took care of his musical education, teaching him to compose and to play the organ and harpsichord. Between 1707 and 1722 he achieved fame as a composer of opera seria,

completing nineteen works that were performed in Italy, Spain and Germany, so that his fame gradually spread throughout Europe.

The six sonatas on the disc are from the early 1720s, a period in history characterized by a new way of composing, known as the 'Sonate di galanteria', in Galant style. This style gave less importance to the complex polyphony and counterpoint of the Baroque, and instead favored the accompanied melody, which was to be the protagonist of classicism from this point on. The sonatas present the typical alternation of slow and fast movements with a two-part monothematic structure. Some movements, however, are based on dance rhythms and there is often a minuet and sometimes a French-style allemande.

Played on the harpsichord by Luigi Chiarizia.