Three Sonatas For Keyboard

The composer Filippo Maria Gherardeschi was a Tuscan. He was born in Pistoia, studied in Bologna, worked in Volterra and Livorno and eventually in Pisa. His most important teacher was the Franciscan Padre Martini from Bologna, who was famous in his time. Gherardeschi was a great admirer of Bach, Händel, Haydn and Mozart. His numerous compositions for church use and for the opera were performed at the Tuscan court, which spent winters in Pisa. His sonatas for the still new fortepiano reveal the opera composer in their melodies.