Italian composer and violinist who flourished in the latter part of the Seventeenth and early part of the Eighteenth Century. Little is known of his early life, save that he was born at Venice. He was an excellent violinist and a prolific composer, producing over forty operas. These were considered less worthy than his songs, concertos and sonatas. Grove says: "Albinoni's sole interest for modern times resides in the fact that the great Bach selected themes from his works, as he did from those of Corelli and Legrenzi," and quotes from Spitta: "Bach must have had an especial liking for Albinoni's compositions... Two harpsichord fugues of the great masters are known to be founded on themes of Albinoni's."