Attilio Malachia Ariosti Italian composer Date of Birth: 05.11.1666 Country: Italy

Biography of Attilio Malachia Ariosti

Attilio Malachia Ariosti was an Italian composer who worked in the Baroque style. He was born in Bologna, Italy, into a middle-class family. At the age of 22, in 1688, Ariosti became a monk, but eventually received permission to leave the religious life. Shortly after, Ariosti became the court composer for the Duke of Mantua and Monferrato. In 1692, he decided to become a priest and was appointed as an organist at the church of S. Maria dei Servi in Bologna.

In 1697, at the request of Queen Sophia Charlotte of Prussia, Ariosti moved to Berlin. Queen Sophia Charlotte was known for her patronage of the arts, particularly music. Ariosti had a good working relationship with the queen and composed numerous works for the Berlin court. He continued to serve as the court composer until 1703.

Ariosti's first opera was performed in 1697 in Venice. From 1703 to 1709, he worked in Italy, and after 1716, he achieved great success in Paris and London. It was in London that Ariosti first met Georg Friedrich Handel and Giovanni Bononcini. Together, they led the activities of the Royal Academy of Music. In 1724, Ariosti published a collection of cantatas and a book on playing the viola d'amore, which were distributed through subscriptions. His works are considered one of the most successful examples of selling music literature through subscriptions.

Ariosti was not only a composer but also a talented singer, playwright, and performer on the cello and harpsichord. However, his favorite instrument was the viola d'amore, for which he composed 21 solo sonatas. This series of sonatas, known as the 'Stockholm Sonatas,' unfortunately, survived only in a single location - the Swedish Music Library in Stockholm, Sweden. In this cycle, Ariosti's distinctive style is vividly evident, showcasing his mastery of harmonic techniques, original use of pauses, and overall non-trivial thinking.