For the Year 1s... my first gift to you: a list of possible search topics for History.

1. The viol family - a family of instruments common in the Baroque period, but eventually superseded by the violin family. Search for: viola da gamba.

2. Farinelli - one of the greatest Italian castrato singers in the 18th century.

3. The Cremonese luthiers - three families of great violin makers hailing from Cremona, Italy. Foremost among them are:
- Antonio Stradivari
- Nicolò Amati
- Giuseppe 'del Gesu' Guarneri

4. Antonio Vivaldi, probably the most important contributor to string literature and someone's favourite composer.

5. Important works by Vivaldi: 'La quattro stagioni' (The Four Seasons) op 8 nos 1-4, Concerto for Two Violins op 3 no 8 in A minor, Concerto for Four Violins op 3 no 10 in B minor, Concerto for Two Cellos RV 531 in G minor

6. Domenico Scarlatti, the most important composer of keyboard music. Wrote 555 keyboard sonatas.

7. Johann Sebastian Bach. Need I say more?

8. Important works by J.S. Bach:
- Three violin concertos - in A minor BWV 1041, in E major BWV 1042, for two violins in D minor BWV 1043
- Four Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066-1069
- The Well-Tempered Clavier BWV 846-893
- St Matthew Passion BWV 244
- Six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin BWV 1001-1006 - odd numbers are sonatas, even numbers are partitas
- Six Suites for solo cello BWV 1007-1012

9. Important late-Baroque composers: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Luigi Boccherini

Labels: history, year1