Biagio Marini

17th-Century Italian Baroque Composer and Violinist

Biagio Marini (1594–1663) was an Italian composer and violinist of the early Baroque era. He was a significant figure in the development of violin technique and the stylus fantasticus, a style characterized by its dramatic contrasts and virtuosic passages. Marini worked in various cities across Europe, including his birthplace Brescia, Venice, where he played under Claudio Monteverdi at St. Mark's Basilica, Neuburg an der Donau, Düsseldorf, and Milan. His compositions include a variety of instrumental works, such as sonatas, symphonies, and dances, as well as vocal music. Marini's Opus 8 collection "Curiose e moderne inventioni" (1629) is particularly notable for its innovative use of the violin. While he was a prolific composer during his lifetime, specific albums like "Salve Regina," "Alla Luna (Per Sonar & Cantar)," and "Stagioni D'Amore" are not directly associated with him since they would be modern compilations or interpretations of his work rather than albums he produced himself, given that the concept of an album did not exist in the 17th century.