Lelio Colista

Lelio Colista ( born January 13, 1629 in Rome, † October 13, 1680 ) was an Italian composer and lutenist.

Life

Funded by his father, who worked in important positions in the Vatican, Collista got an excellent education at an early stage, probably the Seminario Romano. He masterfully mastered several instruments, especially the lute and theorbo. At the age of thirty years he held the lucrative post of custode delle pitture at the papal chapel. In the wake of Cardinal Flavio Chigi, he appeared in Paris in 1664 at the court of Louis XIV. In the last twenty years he was in demand as a composer and teacher in Rome.

As a composer he wrote mainly instrumental music, but of which in his lifetime, there were no prints. Colistas influence on the end because of his time in Rome musician was still great. Arcangelo Corelli mentioned in the preface to his op.1 grateful to the " più professori musici di Roma ", to which belonged Colista. Henry Purcell in 1694 praised his contrapuntal skills. The trio sonatas of Corelli and Purcell are characterized by Colista who was the first " da chiesa ' sonatas for two violins and basso continuo, described by himself as a symphony, written in Rome.

Work (selection)

• 5 cantatas for 1-3 Voices, 2 Violins and Continuo
• 3 Arias for Soprano and B.C.
• 24 " Simfonie " ( Sonatas ) à 3
• 3 Sonata da camera à tre
• 5 Duet sonatas ( for violin, bass instrument and basso continuo )
• 6 " Symphonias " for several plucked instruments (lute, theorbo, guitar and harpsichord)
• 3 Sonatas may trio sonatas, only the melodic bass line is obtained
• 3 Orgelsonaten
• 2 oratorios ( Credited in Rome in 1661 and 1667)