Albinoni Adagio from the Sonata in D Minor for Violin and Piano for Double Bass & Piano

Italian composer Tomaso Albinoni was born of wealthy parents. He was a dilettante musician, never seeking a church or court post, though he had contact with noble patrons. He concentrated on instrumental and secular vocal music and had early successes with his opera Zenobia (1694, Venice) and 12 trio sonatas op.l (1694). His reputation grew, with operas staged in other cities, beginning with Rodrigo in Algeri (1702, Naples).

In all he wrote over 50 operas, several other stage works and over 40 solo cantatas. Albinoni’s instrumental works, mostly for strings, were especially popular; ten sets were published in his lifetime. Bach based four keyboard fugues on subjects from the op.l sonatas.

Source - The Norton/Grove Concise Encyclopedia of Music, Edited by Stanley Sadie