Maurizio Cazzati

Cazzati's musical accomplishments included a number of instrumental works, a few operas, a great deal of sacred vocal works, and arias, cantatas, canzonettes and oratorios. This Italian composer, born in Lucera, spent most of his creative life in Bologna at Santo Petrino. He composed approximately 66 volumes (most of which were vocal) the most influential being his instrumental music. Cazzati's sonatas often distinguished trumpet parts from string parts particularly in fugal arrangements. There was a responsorial sense about many of his compositions and the relationship between the trumpets and strings. He was also the first in Bolgna to compose sonatas for the solo violin. Perhaps the greatest attribute of Cazzati's legacy was his provision for solo vocalists and solo instrumentalists in Bologna. New developments in instrumental music and a place for the musicians to perform was no small event. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi