Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Discover the refined beauty of forgotten Italian Baroque masterpieces through the music of Francesco Maria Zuccari and Pietro Nardini — two remarkable composers whose elegant chamber works reveal the expressive richness of 18th-century Italy.
Francesco Maria Zuccari (c.1694–1788), born in Dosolo, Italy, remains unfamiliar to many listeners today. His career began in Assisi, where he served at the basilica first as organist and later as maestro di cappella. He would go on to hold important musical posts in Rome and Padua.
Primarily known as a composer of sacred music, Zuccari’s ten Cello Sonatas form a rare and fascinating part of his output. Preserved in an anonymous 18th-century manuscript in the Sacro Convento library in Assisi, these works were only recently identified as Zuccari’s after extensive research.
Pietro Nardini (1722–1793) was one of the leading violinists and composers in the tradition of Giuseppe Tartini, under whom he studied. Much of Nardini’s music centers around the violin, both in orchestral and chamber settings. Though a highly gifted performer himself, his compositions avoid empty virtuoso display, favoring elegance, lyricism, and emotional depth. Contemporary accounts describe his playing as deeply moving and refined.
The sonatas featured here reflect the characteristic movement order favored by Tartini: slow – fast – fast. These graceful works reveal Nardini at his most intimate, balancing warmth, clarity, and melodic beauty in music perfectly suited to the salon and chamber.
Performed on period instruments and informed by historical performance practice, these forgotten Italian Baroque works offer an authentic glimpse into the intimate sound world of the 18th century — rich in expressive cello writing, graceful violin textures, and understated beauty.
Enjoy and thank you for listening!
🎵 Purchase, stream or download (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Presto, YouTube Music):
Zuccari, Cello Sonatas: brilliant-classics.lnk.to/Zuccari
Nardini, Sonatas: brilliant-classics.lnk.to/NardiniBC
🎬These tracks are available for sync licensing in videos, films, TV Shows, games, advertising, and more. For licensing inquiries: info@brilliantclassicslicensing.com
*Background Image: Italian Coast Scene (c. 1645) by Jan Both
Tracklist:
Composer: Francesco Maria Zuccari
Artists: Renato Criscuolo (baroque cello & five-string cello)& Musica Perduta (ensemble)
00:00:00 Sonata No.1 in D (basso continuo: theorbo, harpsichord and baroque double bass): I. Preludio: Andante
00:01:43 Sonata No.1 in D II. Allegro spiritoso
00:06:48 Sonata No.1 in D: III. Adagio
00:09:31 Sonata No.1 in D IV. Allegro assai
00:11:20 Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat (basso continuo: theorbo, organ and G violone): I. Preludio: Andante
00:13:59 Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat: II. Moderato – Allegro
00:18:20 Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat: III. Presto
00:19:50 Sonata No. 3 in G (basso continuo: theorbo and organ): I. Preludio: Andante
00:21:48 Sonata No. 3 in G: II. Allegro
00:23:54 Sonata No. 3 in G: III. Grave
00:26:42 Sonata No. 3 in G: IV. Presto, e sciolto
00:28:29 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor (basso continuo: theorbo, harpsichord and baroque double bass): I. Preludio
00:30:37 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor: II. Allegro
00:35:18 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor: III. Cantabile
00:37:33 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor: IV. Allegro assai
00:40:00 Sonata No. 6 in C (basso continuo: theorbo and G violone): I. Preludio: Andante
00:42:26 Sonata No. 6 in C: II. Allegro
00:46:59 Sonata No. 6 in C: III. Cantabile
00:51:06 Sonata No. 6 in C: IV. Allegro assai
00:52:50 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor (basso continuo: theorbo, harpsicord and baroque double bass): I. Preludio: Spiritoso e sciolto
00:54:57 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor : II. Non tanto allegro
00:59:28 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor: III. Adagiato
01:02:20 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor: IV. Allegro assai
Composer: Pietro Nardini
Artists: Ensemble Ardi Cor Mio, Renata Sfriso (violin), Maurizio Cadossi (violin), Caroline Boersma (violoncello), Gabriele Micheli (clavicembalo & harpsichord)
01:03:56 Allegro
01:08:25 Andante
01:11:24 Allegro
01:13:36 Adagio
01:17:03 Allegro
01:19:56 Allegro
01:24:09 Andante
01:28:43 Allegro
01:31:05 Minuetto n.5 in Sol maggiore/G major
01:33:29 Allegro
01:38:07 Andante con variazioni
01:44:21 Allegro
01:47:51 Adagio
01:50:50 Minuetto
01:53:27 Minuetto n.13 in Sol maggiore/G major
01:55:33 Minuetto n.6 in Re maggiore/D major
01:58:03 Andante
02:01:25 Allegro
02:03:48 Largo
02:08:53 Minuetto (Vivace
02:09:59 Allegro
02:12:01 Adagio
02:15:30 Allegro
02:19:48 Presto
02:21:50 Minuetto n.6 in Re maggiore/D major
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Thank you for watching this video by Brilliant Classics, we hope you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#baroque #Nardini #Zuccari #brilliantclassics
Discover the refined beauty of forgotten Italian Baroque masterpieces through the music of Francesco Maria Zuccari and Pietro Nardini — two remarkable composers whose elegant chamber works reveal the expressive richness of 18th-century Italy.
Francesco Maria Zuccari (c.1694–1788), born in Dosolo, Italy, remains unfamiliar to many listeners today. His career began in Assisi, where he served at the basilica first as organist and later as maestro di cappella. He would go on to hold important musical posts in Rome and Padua.
Primarily known as a composer of sacred music, Zuccari’s ten Cello Sonatas form a rare and fascinating part of his output. Preserved in an anonymous 18th-century manuscript in the Sacro Convento library in Assisi, these works were only recently identified as Zuccari’s after extensive research.
Pietro Nardini (1722–1793) was one of the leading violinists and composers in the tradition of Giuseppe Tartini, under whom he studied. Much of Nardini’s music centers around the violin, both in orchestral and chamber settings. Though a highly gifted performer himself, his compositions avoid empty virtuoso display, favoring elegance, lyricism, and emotional depth. Contemporary accounts describe his playing as deeply moving and refined.
The sonatas featured here reflect the characteristic movement order favored by Tartini: slow – fast – fast. These graceful works reveal Nardini at his most intimate, balancing warmth, clarity, and melodic beauty in music perfectly suited to the salon and chamber.
Performed on period instruments and informed by historical performance practice, these forgotten Italian Baroque works offer an authentic glimpse into the intimate sound world of the 18th century — rich in expressive cello writing, graceful violin textures, and understated beauty.
Enjoy and thank you for listening!
🎵 Purchase, stream or download (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Presto, YouTube Music):
Zuccari, Cello Sonatas: brilliant-classics.lnk.to/Zuccari
Nardini, Sonatas: brilliant-classics.lnk.to/NardiniBC
🎬These tracks are available for sync licensing in videos, films, TV Shows, games, advertising, and more. For licensing inquiries: info@brilliantclassicslicensing.com
*Background Image: Italian Coast Scene (c. 1645) by Jan Both
Tracklist:
Composer: Francesco Maria Zuccari
Artists: Renato Criscuolo (baroque cello & five-string cello)& Musica Perduta (ensemble)
00:00:00 Sonata No.1 in D (basso continuo: theorbo, harpsichord and baroque double bass): I. Preludio: Andante
00:01:43 Sonata No.1 in D II. Allegro spiritoso
00:06:48 Sonata No.1 in D: III. Adagio
00:09:31 Sonata No.1 in D IV. Allegro assai
00:11:20 Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat (basso continuo: theorbo, organ and G violone): I. Preludio: Andante
00:13:59 Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat: II. Moderato – Allegro
00:18:20 Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat: III. Presto
00:19:50 Sonata No. 3 in G (basso continuo: theorbo and organ): I. Preludio: Andante
00:21:48 Sonata No. 3 in G: II. Allegro
00:23:54 Sonata No. 3 in G: III. Grave
00:26:42 Sonata No. 3 in G: IV. Presto, e sciolto
00:28:29 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor (basso continuo: theorbo, harpsichord and baroque double bass): I. Preludio
00:30:37 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor: II. Allegro
00:35:18 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor: III. Cantabile
00:37:33 Sonata No. 4 in A Minor: IV. Allegro assai
00:40:00 Sonata No. 6 in C (basso continuo: theorbo and G violone): I. Preludio: Andante
00:42:26 Sonata No. 6 in C: II. Allegro
00:46:59 Sonata No. 6 in C: III. Cantabile
00:51:06 Sonata No. 6 in C: IV. Allegro assai
00:52:50 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor (basso continuo: theorbo, harpsicord and baroque double bass): I. Preludio: Spiritoso e sciolto
00:54:57 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor : II. Non tanto allegro
00:59:28 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor: III. Adagiato
01:02:20 Sonata No. 8 in D Minor: IV. Allegro assai
Composer: Pietro Nardini
Artists: Ensemble Ardi Cor Mio, Renata Sfriso (violin), Maurizio Cadossi (violin), Caroline Boersma (violoncello), Gabriele Micheli (clavicembalo & harpsichord)
01:03:56 Allegro
01:08:25 Andante
01:11:24 Allegro
01:13:36 Adagio
01:17:03 Allegro
01:19:56 Allegro
01:24:09 Andante
01:28:43 Allegro
01:31:05 Minuetto n.5 in Sol maggiore/G major
01:33:29 Allegro
01:38:07 Andante con variazioni
01:44:21 Allegro
01:47:51 Adagio
01:50:50 Minuetto
01:53:27 Minuetto n.13 in Sol maggiore/G major
01:55:33 Minuetto n.6 in Re maggiore/D major
01:58:03 Andante
02:01:25 Allegro
02:03:48 Largo
02:08:53 Minuetto (Vivace
02:09:59 Allegro
02:12:01 Adagio
02:15:30 Allegro
02:19:48 Presto
02:21:50 Minuetto n.6 in Re maggiore/D major
📲 Follow us on Social media: @BrilliantClassics
Thank you for watching this video by Brilliant Classics, we hope you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#baroque #Nardini #Zuccari #brilliantclassics
