Domenico Gabrielli


Domenico Gabrielli was an Italian Baroque composer and one of the earliest known virtuoso cello players, as well as a pioneer of cello music writing. Born in Bologna, he worked in the orchestra of the church of San Petronio and was also a member and for some time president of the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna. During the 1680s he also worked as a musician at the court of Duke Francesco II d'Este of Modena.
Gabrielli wrote several operas as well as instrumental and vocal church works. He is especially notable as the composer of some of the earliest attested works for solo cello. Among his contemporaries, his own virtuoso performances on this instrument earned him the nickname Mingain ''dal viulunzeel,'' a dialect form meaning "Dominic of the cello."

Works, editions and recordings

Rodoaldo, re d' Italia − opera in 3 acts. Venice 1685 - manuscript in Modena.
Recordings