Marco Uccellini facts for kids

Marco Uccellini (born in Forlimpopoli, Forlì around 1603 or 1610 – died December 10, 1680) was a famous Italian Baroque violin player and composer. He wrote a lot of music, mostly for the solo violin. His work was very important for making instrumental music popular on its own. It also helped develop new ways to play the violin.

Life of Marco Uccellini

We don't know every detail about Marco Uccellini's life. This is common for many composers from the 1600s. But we have enough information to understand his story. He was born into a wealthy noble family in Forlimpopoli. His family had owned land there for a long time.

Many people in his family worked for the church. His father, Pietro Maria, was one of them. Marco probably went to study at a church school in Assisi in the early 1630s. Records suggest he started his music training there. He might have learned from Giovanni Battista Buonamente. Buonamente was also a well-known violinist and composer. He was the music director (called maestro di cappella) at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi at that time.

Marco Uccellini became the head of the musicians (Capo degl’instrumentisti) for the Este family in Modena. He held this job from 1641 to 1662. He was also the main music director (maestro di cappella) for the Modena cathedral from 1647 to 1665. Records show that the d'Este family trusted him. He was paid much more than other violinists at court.

Later, he lost his job when Duke Alfonso IV d'Este changed things. But he quickly found a new job. He became the maestro di cappella at the Farnese court in Parma. He got this job mainly because Isabella d'Este helped him. She had recently married into the Farnese family.

At the Farnese court, he wrote operas and ballets. Sadly, none of this music has survived. So, today he is mostly known for his instrumental music.

Uccellini's Music and Influence

Uccellini was one of many great Italian violinists and composers in the 1600s. His sonatas for violin and continuo helped create a special style for the violin. This style included fast runs, big leaps, and playing in high positions. This made the violin much more capable and expressive.

Like other Italian sonatas from the 1600s, Uccellini's pieces had short, different sections. These sections often included dances and flowed smoothly into each other. Uccellini's new ideas influenced many German and Austrian violinists. These included Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Heinrich Ignaz Biber, and Johann Jakob Walther.

Contributions to Violin Playing

Uccellini's violin music was very difficult and special for the instrument. This suggests he was a brilliant violinist himself. He introduced new playing techniques needed for his challenging music. He also helped make music written just for solo violin and continuo popular. Back then, composers often did not say which instruments should play their music. They preferred to write parts that could be played by different instruments.

Works

Uccellini mainly wrote instrumental music. Seven collections of his works were published. Here are some examples:

• 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 (Venice, 1660 and Antwerp, 1668)
• Sinfonie Boscarecie, Op. 8. This is a collection of 37 short pieces for violin and basso continuo. A basso continuo is a group of instruments that play the bass line and chords. Sometimes, a second and third violin could join in. The first music sheets were printed in Venice in 1660. A later version from Antwerp in 1669 is available online Sinfonie Boscarecie.
• Sinfonici concerti brevi e facili, Op. 9

He also wrote one opera called Gli eventi di Filandro ad Edessa. It was first performed in Parma in 1675.

See also

In Spanish: Marco Uccellini para niños