Born into the nobility of Venice, Alessandro Marcello studied law and served first as a member of the city-state's high council, later as a diplomat in the Levant and the Peloponnese, finally returning to Venice to take a judiciary position. He enjoyed notable creative achievement in painting, poetry and musical composition. The total of his musical oeuvre is modest (a handful of cantatas, sonatas and concerti); however, they are highly regarded and are considered the pinnacle of the Italian Baroque. Bach is known to have transcribed Marcello's Oboe Concerto in D Minor for the harpsichord, which is in itself a sign of high respect. Alessandro often signed his compositions with the nom-de-plume "Eterio Stinfalico," which led for a time to many of his compositions' being attributed to his more famous younger brother, Benedetto, or even to Antonio Vivaldi.
-- Kendall Briggs