Marco Uccellini

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Marco Uccellini (Forlimpopoli, Forlì 1603 or 1610 - 10 December 1680) was a strikingly innovative Italian Baroque violinist and composer, known for the introduction of the scordatura technique.

Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Contributions as violinist 4 Further reading 5 External links 6 Selected discography

[edit] Life

Uccellini's life is poorly known. Born at Forlimpopoli, Forlì, he studied in the Assisi seminary. He became musical director (Capo degl’ instrumentisti) of the Este court in Modena from 1641 to 1662, and was the musical director (maestro di cappella ) of the Modena cathedral from 1647 to 1665. Afterwards he served as maestro di cappella at the Farnese court in Parma until his death. At the Farnese court, he composed operas and ballets, but none of this music survives; thus, he is mainly known today for his instrumental music.

[edit] Works

Uccellini mainly composed instrumental music, of which seven collections were published. Some examples are:

• Sonate, sinfonie et correnti, Op. 2 (1639)
• Sonate, arie et correnti, Op 3 (Venice, 1642)
• Sonate, correnti et arie, Op 4
• Sonate, over canzoni, Op. 5 (1649)
• Salmi a 1, a 3, 4, et a 5 concertati parte con istromenti e parte senza con Letanie della Beata Vergine Concertate a 5 con istromenti, Op. 6 (Venice, 1654)
• Ozio regio, Op. 7
• Sinfonie Boscarecie, Op. 8, a collection of 37 small pieces for violin and basso continuo joined ad libitum by a second and third violins. The first edition of the sheet music was printed in Venice in 1660 but a version reprinted in Antwerp in 1669 was used in the freely available version Sinfonie Boscarecie
• Sinfonici concerti brevi e facili, Op. 9

[edit] Contributions as violinist

Uccellini contributed to the bow technique, introducing the sixth position . He also was one of the first using the scordatura. His publication Le Sonate over canzoni (1649) was the first music published for solo violin and continuo.

[edit] Further reading

• Marco Uccellini: Atti del Convegno "Marco Uccelliini… e la sua musica" editors Maria Caraci Vela and Marina Toffetti, Lucca 1999. Record of conference in Forlimpopoli, 1996. The first study devoted to this composer. Bibliography

(on-line contents)

[edit] External links

• Op.5 Sinfonie Boscarecie and Op.3 Sheet of music
• Uccellini works Altri instrumenti ensemble plays Uccellini
• Marco Uccellini was listed in the International Music Score Library Project

[edit] Selected discography

• Marco Uccellini: Sonatas. Performed by Romanesca, a trio with Andrew Manze (violin), Nigel North (theorbo, archlute, Baroque guitar), and John Toll (harpsichord, organ) and excellent liner notes by Manze. Harmonia Mundi 907196