Tartini continued Corelli’s compositional style, but endowed the music with more passion and a more refined technique. Tartini fully embodies the musical taste of the 18th century, according to which “music ought to be expressive and not merely ornamented, insignificant and artificial”, thus truly earning the title of “master of the nations”.

The works on this CD span almost thirty years, from the 1730s (Sonata No. 45) to the 1760s (Sonata No. 40). All of these sonatas have initial themes that are easily remembered because of their peculiar traits and the incisiveness of their motifs, the height of expressiveness being in the slow movement. The Allegros that follow, often passionately vigorous, are dominated by vivid colours, interesting rhythmic and harmonic variety, and the refined technique that binds everything together.