Giovanni Battista Sammartini

Giovanni Battista Sammartini was an 18th-century Italian composer and oboist, considered a key figure in early classical music. He played a vital role in developing the symphony and orchestral music, helping to shape the transition from Baroque to Classical styles. Sammartini composed numerous symphonies, sonatas, and operas, characterized by clarity, balanced melodies, and expressive simplicity. His work influenced later composers, including Mozart, and contributed to the evolving language of Western art music. Sammartini's innovative approach to orchestration and form laid important groundwork for the Classical era.