Tomaso Antonio Vitali (1663 - 1745) was an Italian composer and violinist during the Baroque Era who is generally known for his Chaconne in G Minor for violin and basso continuo.

Chaconnes are a type of musical composition that consists of variations on a repeating harmonic progression. Vitali's Chaconne in particular is interesting because of its unorthodox features. Although it opens with a step-wise bass line that introduces the primary harmonic progression, it features multiple modulations into the far-flung keys of Eb-minor and Bb-minor (Ab-minor and Eb-minor in my arrangement), among others. These modulations (or key-signature changes) and other romanticisms would not begenerally seen until the Romantic Era roughly a century later.This created musicological doubts as to whether the originalmanuscript belonged to Vitali, although there is some evidenceof its authenticity.

This arrangement is based on L�opold Charlier's (1867 - 1936) arrangement of the piece, though I took inspirations from other composers and wrote some original voices. Enjoy!

Richard Galliano is a French accordionist of Italian heritage. After a long and intense period of study, at 14, in a search to expand his ideas on the accordion, he began listening to jazz and heard records by the trumpet player Clifford Brown. The second decisive meeting took place in 1980, with the Argentinean composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla.
Astor strongly encouraged Richard to create the French ?New Musette?, as he himself had previously invented the Argentinean ?New Tango?.
Some later collaboration include Chet Baker, Eddy Louiss, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Haden,
Gary Burton, Michel Portal, Toots Thielemans and Kurt Elling.

This arrangement for Viola with piano of one of his most famous and performed pieces (with clear rhythmic references to the Piazzolla's "Libertango") is suitable for classroom, repertoire and recital.