Antonio Caldara

An Italian composer of an estimated 3,400 pieces. The majority of his compositions were vocal pieces although he also composed instrumental works (sonatas). The genres he employed in vocal music included primarily opera, cantata and oratorio. The better parts of his works are characterized by drama, effective melodic structures, affinities between words and music, and subtle awareness of instrumental nuances. (It is possible that he influenced or was influenced by Corelli, Handel, the Scarlattis and Pasquini as he came into contact with them in Rome.) These characteristics w...