Tomaso Antonio Vitali, was born to violoni (or violoncellist) Giovanni Battista Vitali in March of 1663 at Bologna, Italy, who likely taught him. In 1674, the Vitali family relocated to Modena, where Tomasso was enrolled in the Court Cappella, where, with the acceptance of Dukes of Modena and Reggio, Francesco II and Rinaldo I d’Este, Tomaso became the following director.
In 1706, Vitali received a membership to the acclaimed Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna. Its importance was vast as its’ constituents and students included musical behemoths such as Arcangelo Corelli, composer Giovanni Battista Martini, Andre Modeste Gretry, composition teacher J. Christian Bach, and most notably, Amadeus Mozart.
The following is a compilation of compositions by T. Vitali:
- A set of trio sonatas for two violins, violoncello, and organ bass (1693), possibly op.1. Source: http://www.bibliotecamusica.it/cmbm/scripts/gaspari/scheda.asp?id=12143
- Sonatas for two violins and organ. (1693). Source: http://www.bibliotecamusica.it/cmbm/scripts/gaspari/scheda.asp?id=12143
- ‘Concerto di Sonate’ collection for violin, cello, and harpsichord op.4 (1701) Source: http://www.bibliotecamusica.it/cmbm/scripts/gaspari/scheda.asp?id=12144 Free Sheet Music: https://imslp.org/wiki/Concerto_di_sonate_a_violino%2C_violoncello_e_cembalo%2C_Op.4_(Vitali%2C_Tomaso_Antonio)
- Short prelude in D minor for solo violin, found in a compilation of Preludes and Voluntaries by John Walsh, 1705. Free Sheet music, in the complete score, No.15 page 39: https://imslp.org/wiki/Select_Preludes_and_Voluntaries_for_the_Violin_(Walsh%2C_John)
- Chacconne (Ciaccona) in G minor, first arranged by Ferdinand David in the 1800s. The most widely performed version is by Leopold Charlier, whos version can be found on our website for all stringed instruments. Ferdinand David’s version can be found here: https://ks4.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/b/bb/IMSLP10306-Vitali_Chaconne_in_g_for_Violin_and_Piano.pdf
- - Three chamber sonatas for two violins and cello (or bass), 1695. source: https://www.worldcat.org/title/sonate-da-camera-a-tre-due-violini-e-violone-opera-terza/oclc/12489774&referer=brief_results
Another source shows an earlier volume of works with the same title was published in 1692. This work was one of his father’s, which Tomaso edited and published. Likely it is the same set of music republished in 1695 as well:
‘’Sonate da camera a tre, for two violins and cello or bass, Op.14”: https://imslp.org/wiki/Sonate_da_camera_a_tre%2C_due_Violini%2C_e_Violone%2C_Op.14_(Vitali%2C_Giovanni_Battista)