Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

Italian Baroque Composer and Violinist

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was an Italian composer, violinist, and organist, born in Jesi, Italy, on January 4, 1710. Despite his short life—he died at the age of 26—Pergolesi left a significant mark on the Baroque music era. He is best known for his sacred music compositions, among which the "Stabat Mater" stands out as his most celebrated work. This piece was composed in 1736, during the final weeks of Pergolesi's life while he was battling tuberculosis. The "Stabat Mater," a setting of a medieval Latin poem meditating on the suffering of Mary, Jesus Christ's mother, during his crucifixion, is noted for its deeply expressive melodies and harmonies that have touched audiences for centuries.