Short bio Giovanni Battista Fontana
Full biography Giovanni Battista Fontana
Giovanni Battista Fontana was an Italian composer who lived during the baroque period, from approximately 1571 to 1630. He is best known for his work in instrumental music, particularly his compositions for violin and other stringed instruments.
Fontana was born in Brescia, Italy, and little is known about his early life. He first emerges in historical records in the early 1600s as a rising star in the world of music, earning accolades for his virtuosic playing and innovative compositions.
One of Fontana's most significant achievements was his development of the sonata, a popular form of instrumental music in the baroque era. His sonatas are characterized by their fast-paced, virtuosic playing, intricate counterpoint, and inventive harmonies.
Fontana also composed a number of other works, including canzonas, fantasias, and chaconnes. His music was highly esteemed during his lifetime and continued to be played and studied long after his death.
While Fontana's life and legacy may have been somewhat overshadowed by his more famous contemporaries, such as Claudio Monteverdi and Antonio Vivaldi, his contributions to the development of instrumental music were significant. His music remains an important part of the baroque repertoire and continues to be appreciated by music lovers around the world.
Compositions featuring Giovanni Battista Fontana
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonata 6 per il violino o cornetto | 6:35 min | Chamber Music | 1651 |
| 2 | Sonata Quarta | 5:10 min | Chamber Music | 1651 |
| 3 | Sonata for 3 violins | 4:37 min | Chamber Music | 1641 |
| 4 | Sonata No. 15a for violin (or cornetto) & basso continuo (from "Sonate à 1, 2, 3...") | 3:48 min | Chamber Music | 1641 |
| 5 | Sonata Prima for recorder | 3:42 min | Chamber Music | 1630 |
| 6 | Sonata Seconda for soprano recorder, viola da gamba & lute (from Sonata à 1, 2, 3) | 6:50 min | Chamber Music | 16?? |
| 7 | Sonata No. 1 (from "Sonate a 1, 2, 3...") | 3:40 min | - | |
| 8 | Toccata (in The Lady's Banquet, 1708) | 0:51 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 9 | Sonata No. 2 for cornet solo | 4:19 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 10 | Sonata No. 7 for 2 violins (or cornetto and violin) & continuo (from 18 Sonatas in 1, 2, or 3 parts) | 5:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 11 | Sonata Nona | 5:46 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 12 | Sonata Ottava | 5:51 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 13 | Sonata Quartadecima | 5:46 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 14 | Sonata Quinta | 5:11 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 15 | Sonata seconda a violino solo | 6:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 16 | Sonata Sesta | 8:18 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 17 | Sonata Sestadecima | 4:48 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 18 | Sonata Terza (from Sonata à 1, 2, 3) | 4:33 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Sonata Undecima | 6:49 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 20 | Sonata à 2 canti No. 11 | 7:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Sonata 5 (Sonate a 1. 2. 3., op. post.) | 5:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Sonata No 13 | 5:38 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 23 | Sonata Decima | 5:42 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Sonata Duodecima | 5:45 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 25 | Sonata for 3 | 5:14 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 26 | Sonata for recorder No 3 in C | 4:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 27 | Sonata for solo violin No. 2 (Sonata seconda) | 6:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 28 | Sonata for solo violin No. 3 | 4:30 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 29 | Sonata for solo violin No. 4 | 5:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 30 | Sonata for solo violin No. 5 | 5:16 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 31 | Sonata for solo violin No. 6 | 6:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 32 | Sonata No.18 for violin, cornetto, dulcian organ & continuo | 6:29 min | - | |
| 33 | Sonata No.8 for 2 violins & continuo | 6:32 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 34 | Sonata No.10 for violin, cello & continuo | 6:56 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 35 | Sonata No.11 for 2 cornettos, harp & continuo | 6:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 36 | Sonata No.12 for violin, dulcian & continuo | 5:24 min | - | |
| 37 | Sonata No.14 for violin, cornetto, harp & continuo | 6:40 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 38 | Sonata No.15 for 2 cornettos, dulcian, organ & continuo | 4:37 min | - | |
| 39 | Sonata No.16 for violin, 2 cornettos, harp & continuo | 5:02 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 40 | Sonata No.17 for 2 violins, dulcian & continuo | 5:29 min | - |
Albums featuring Giovanni Battista Fontana
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Giovanni Battista Fontana – Lux Terrae Baroque Ensemble · Neyza Copa – Complete Sonatas For Violin And B.C.(2×CD, Album) | 2023 | Brilliant Classics |
| 2 |  |
Angelo Notari, Giovanni Battista Fontana - Julia Fritz, Johannes Hämmerle – Antegnati Organ, Mantua(CD, ) | 2021 | Audite |
| 3 |  |
La Vaghezza, Cavalli, Merula ,Works By Vitali, Fontana, S. Rossi... – Sculpting The Fabric(CD, ) | 2020 | Ambronay Éditions |
| 4 |  |
Marini, Strozzi, Falconieri, Monteverdi, Fontana, Piccinini, Merula, Frescobaldi - Ensemble La Selva : Marília Vargas, Carolina Pace, Michele Carreca, Francesco Tomasi & Gianni La Marca – Alla Luna (Per Sonar & Cantar)(CD, Album) | 2020 | Da Vinci Classics |
| 5 |  |
Gabrieli - Marini - Fontana - Castello - Cavalli - Uccellini - Buonamente, Clematis – Quattro Violini A Venezia(CD, ) | 2019 | Ricercar |
| 6 |  |
Fontana · Handel · Mancini · Strozzi · Vivaldi – La Botta Forte – Palpiti Del Cuore(CD, ) | 2014 | Fra Bernardo |
| 7 |  |
Giovanni Battista Fontana, Giovanni Gabrieli - Le Concert Brisé, William Dongois – Sonate & Canzone(CD, ) | 2014 | Accent |
| 8 |  |
Giovanni Battista Fontana - Stradivaria, Daniel Cuiller – Sonate A Violino Ed Altri Strumenti(CD, ) | 2013 | Mirare |
| 9 |  |
Dario Castello / Giovanni Battista Fontana - John Holloway, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Jane Gower – Sonate Concertate In Stil Moderno(CD, Album) | 2012 | ECM Records |
| 10 |  |
Fontana · Frescobaldi · Grillo · Monteverdi, Rossi – Quadro Asolano – Ardo | 1997 | Rivo Alto |
| 11 |  |
Fontana, Cima, Turini - Ensemble Sonnerie – Sonates | 1996 | Virgin Veritas |
| 12 |  |
Fontana, Barsanti, Telemann, van Eyck, Castello, Frescobaldi / Clas Pehrsson – Performs Recorder Music(CD, Compilation) | 1994 | BIS |
| 13 |  |
Castello, Fontana, Marini, Uccellini, Trio Arcangelo Corelli – Il Violino in San Marco(CD, Album) | 1993 | Musikproduktion Dabringhaus Und Grimm |
| 14 |  |
Giovanni Battista Fontana / Clemencic Consort – 12 Sonte A 1, 2, 3 Per Il Violino O Cornetto, Fagotto, Chitarrone, Violoncino O Simile Alto Istromento(CD, Album) | 1988 | Accord |
| 15 |  |
Giovanni Battista Fontana, Jonkheer Jacob van Eyck, Giovanni Paolo Cima, Johann Sebastian Bach, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Uta Friederich, Elisabeth Maranca – Konzert Für Blockflöte Und Orgel(12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo) | 1984 | VMK |
| 16 |  |
Castello · Fontana · Merulo, Piccinini · Frescobaldi - Fiori Musicali – Italienische Solomusik Um 1630 (Toccate - Canzone - Sonate) | 1982 | Recreation (2) |
| 17 |  |
Fontana, Purcell, Vitali, Marais, Handel, Kenneth V. Jones Played By Duo Antiqua – Music From Lacock And Addington(LP, Album) | 1977 | Wealden |
| 18 |  |
Clas Pehrsson, Bengt Ericson, Anders Öhrwall - Fontana / Barsanti / Telemann / van Eyck / Linde / Shinohara – Sonata Prima / Sonata C Minor / Sonate E Minor / Comagain / Fantasia En Echo / Amarilli, Mia Bella / Fragmente(LP, Album, Stereo) | 1976 | BIS |
| 19 |  |
Fontana, Locke, Vitali, Marais - Quadro Hotteterre - Kees Boeke & Walter Van Hauwe, Bob van Asperen, Wouter Möller – Hotteterre Quartet, Vol. 2 (Works By Fontana, Locke, Vitali & Marais) | 1975 | World Record Club |
| 20 |  |
Cazzati, Fontana, Marini, Telemann, Gerard Schwarz – A Baroque Trumpet Recital | 1972 | Nonesuch |
| 21 |  |
Girolamo Frescobaldi, Giovanni Battista Fontana, Gerard Schwarz – The Age Of Splendour(LP, Stereo) | - | Desto |
Videos featuring Giovanni Battista Fontana
Quattro violoni a Venezia by Clematis
Release date → September 2019
Stream//Download//Buy → https://lnk.to/QuattroVioloni_ClematisID
Although the first violin virtuosos came mainly from Cremona, Brescia or Mantua, it was Venice that swiftly emerged as the principal centre for the develop
Fontana, Cima, Turini - Sonatas (Ensemble Sonnerie, 1996)
Fontana, Cima, Turini
Sonatas (Ensemble Sonnerie, 1996)
Sonata No. 1: Sonata prima
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Sonata No. 1: Sonata prima · Clas Pehrsson · Thomas Schuback
Telemann / Fontana / Castello: Recorder Chamber Music
℗ 1994 BIS
Released on: 1994-02-28
Artist: Clas Pehrsson
Artist: Thomas Schuback
Composer:
A Baroque Trumpet Recital: Cazzati, Fontana, Marini, Telemann - Gerard Schwarz - Nonesuch H-71274
(0:00) Cazzati: Sonata In D Minor For Trumpet & Continuo, La Pellicana
(4:57) Fontana: Sonata No. 10 In E Minor For Trumpet & Continuo
(10:14) Fontana: Ballette E Pass'e Mezzo For Trumpet & Continuo
(12:51) Marini: Sonata In D Minor For Trumpet, Bassoon
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