Alessandro Marcello (1673-1747) – Oboe Concerto in C minor: Adagio

Alessandro Ignazio Marcello was an Italian nobleman and composer.

Born in Venice, Marcello was the son of a senator. As such, he enjoyed a comfortable life that gave him the scope to pursue his interest in music. He held concerts in his hometown and also composed and published several sets of concertos, including 6 concertos under the title of La Cetra (The Lyre), as well as cantatas, arias, canzonets, and violin sonatas.

Originally written in D minor, this piece has been loved by other composers so much that they have added to it. Johann Sebastian Bach’s solo keyboard arrangement of the concerto, BWV 974, dates from around 1715.