Viewed from an authenticity standpoint, this new recording by violinist Fabrizio Longo of twelve sonatas by Italian violinist and composer Tomaso Pegolotti (1666-1749) certainly hits the mark. During the Baroque period, focus began to shift from the music itself to the musician, and the era of the "virtuoso" was born. Composers outmaneuvered each other by imposing increasingly difficult technical challenges and demands on the performers. So much so that in many cases, and to their obvious benefit, only the composers themselves could play some of these pieces.

Such is the case with Tomaso Pegolotti. "Tomaso would have to be a technically very gifted violinist, because in more than one case we run into difficulties not common in those years" {Booklet Notes}. Double stops, leaps, fast runs, delicate transitions and ornamentations are present throughout the music. All played with genuine character by Fabrizio Longo, and well supported by Francesco Galligioni (cello), Domenico Cerasani (theorbo), Giacomo Benedetti (organ) and Anna Clemente (harpsichord). The audio recording itself is a bit distant, which was probably intentional, as it well captures the brightness of the 1700s Pierre Mansuy violin, as well as the unquestionable sound of the other period instruments.

There were plenty of consequential satellites orbiting around Vivaldi, Bach and Telemann during the baroque period, and Tomaso Pegolotti, although practically absent these days, was certainly one of them. And like so many other forgotten composers of his day, he played an important role in the development of music as we know it today.