Corelli: Twelve concerti grossi, Op. 6

Introduction

Twelve concerti grossi, Op. 6, is a collection of twelve concerti written by Arcangelo Corelli, arranged for publication in 1714. These are some of the finest examples of the baroque-style concerti grossi, that is, concertos for a concertino group, in these cases of a 1st violin, a 2nd violin and a cello, and a ripieno group of 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, cellos and continuo. They were the model for the later publication in London, in 1739, of Handel's own collection of twelve Opus 6 Concerti Grossi.

Details

The first eight are concerti da chiesa while the last four are concerti da camera.

No. 1 in D major

1. Largo – Allegro
2. Largo – Allegro
3. Largo
4. Allegro
5. Allegro

c. 12 minutes

No. 2 in F major

1. Vivace – Allegro – Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Grave – Largo
4. Allegro

c. 10 minutes

No. 3 in C minor

1. Largo
2. Allegro – Adagio
3. Grave
4. Vivace
5. Allegro

c. 10 minutes

No. 4, in D major

Main article: Concerto grosso in D major, Op.6, No. 4 (Corelli)

1. Adagio – Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Vivace
4. Allegro – Giga: Presto

c. 10 minutes

No. 5, in B-flat major

1. Adagio – Allegro – Adagio
2. Adagio
3. Allegro – Adagio
4. Largo
5. Allegro

c. 11 minutes

No. 6, in F major

1. Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Largo
4. Vivace
5. Allegro

c. 12 minutes

No. 7, in D major

1. Vivace – Allegro – Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Adagio
4. Vivace
5. Allegro

c. 9 minutes

No. 8, in G minor

Also known as the Christmas Concerto as it was written for Christmas Eve and has a pastorale in the last movement.

1. Vivace – Grave
2. Allegro
3. Adagio – Allegro – Adagio
4. Vivace
5. Allegro
6. Pastorale: Largo

c. 14 minutes

No. 9, in F major

1. Preludio: Largo
2. Allemanda: Allegro
3. Corrente: Vivace
4. Gavotta: Allegro
5. Adagio
6. Minuetto: Vivace

c. 9 minutes

No. 10, in C major

1. Preludio: Largo
2. Allemanda: Allegro
3. Adagio
4. Corrente: Vivace
5. Giga: Presto
6. Minuetto: Vivace

c. 13 minutes

No. 11, in B-flat major

1. Preludio: Largo
2. Allemanda: Allegro
3. Adagio
4. Largo
5. Sarabanda: Largo
6. Giga: Vivace

c. 10 minutes

No. 12, in F major

1. Preludio: Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Adagio
4. Sarabanda: Vivace
5. Giga: Allegro

c. 10 minutes

Length estimates are drawn from the recording by The English Concert.