Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer (1692–1766) was a Dutch nobleman and a baroque composer whose musical talents were not fully appreciated during his lifetime. He is most renowned for a set of compositions that, for a long time, were mistakenly attributed to other composers. Born into a wealthy aristocratic family, van Wassenaer did not seek a career in music. Instead, he served in various diplomatic and administrative roles for the Dutch Republic. However, his deep love for music and composition quietly produced a significant collection of works.

The most famous of these works are the "Concerti Armonici," which were anonymously published in the 18th century. For many years, credit for these pieces was attributed to various composers, including Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Carlo Ricciotti. It wasn't until the 20th century that musicologist Albert Dunning identified van Wassenaer as the true composer, based on a manuscript found in the family archives. The "Concerti Armonici" are well-regarded for their melodic elegance and harmonic richness, exemplifying van Wassenaer's skill in blending Italian and Dutch baroque musical traditions. Despite the oversight of his time, Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer's legacy now rightfully includes recognition as a distinguished contributor to the baroque repertoire.

Genres

Baroque

Dutch Baroque

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Latest Release

Camerata Bern - Baroque Gems

Camerata Bern•

Tomaso Albinoni•

Johann Sebastian Bach•

Alessandro Marcello•

Georg Philipp Telemann•

Antonio Vivaldi•

Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer•

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Album - 93 Tracks - Released November 6, 2024