Evaristo Felice dall’Abaco
1675-1742
Born in Verona, Dall’Abaco was the son of a renowned guitarist. He excelled at violin and cello from an early age and secured a court appointment at Modena before joining the orchestra of the court of Maximilian II Emanuel, elector of Bavaria as a cellist.
His timing proved to be off. Maximillian was on the wrong side at the Battle of Blenheim and he and his court endured prolonged exile in the Netherlands and France.
He remained loyal to his employer throughout and used the opportunity to study French influences on contemporary music. When the court returned to Munich in 1715, Dall’Abaco was rewarded for his loyalty with the post of Konzertmeister.
Largely forgotten today, his work is characterised by strident and vibrant tones and up tempo pieces full of drama. The first piece on the recording below is a personal favourite (Concierto No.12 en Re mayor - Allegro-Grave-Allegro ma non troppo):
I enjoyed this. Decent bit of Baroque.
Mrs H says it reminds her of Michael Nyman "Draftsman's Contract" film music, and there is something in that