Giovanni Battista Sammartini and his Musical Environment

The career of Giovanni Battista Sammartini (Milan, 1700/1701-1775) fully reflects the important stylistic developments that took place in Europe during the 18th century: from the Baroque style, through the gallant idioms and right up to the early days of classicism. His was an exceptional musical personality, which remained on the international musical scene for a good fifty years without ever yielding to the blandishments of fashion. Instead Sammartini continued to open out new paths for the yo…