PIETRO LOCATELLI (born this day 3 September 1695)

PIETRO LOCATELLI,

Italian viola player and composer (d. 1764)

Little is known about Locatelli’s childhood. In his early youth he was the third violinist and held the title of virtuoso in the cappella musicale (musical establishment) of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo. His first violin teachers were probably Ludovico Ferronati and Carlo Antonio Marino, both of whom were members of the cappella. The maestro di cappella,Francesco Ballarotti, may have taught him composition. In autumn 1711 Locatelli went to Rome to seek greater recognition.