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Events:

• Overture in G major
• Symphony No 1 in D major
• Symphony No 2 in G major
• Symphony No 3 in D major
• Symphony No 4 in F major
• Symphony No 5 in D major
• Symphony No 6 in D major
• Symphony No 7 in G major
• Sinfonia in G major
• Eroice Staccato
• Sonata in A major
• Trio in G major

CPO 999 678-2 Complete Instrumental Works

Luka Sorkočević (1734–1789) was born on January 13, 1734 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. A contemporay of Joseph and Michael Haydn as well as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sorkočević was a diplomat first and a composer second. However, he confided his preference for music in his journals. Kapellmeister Giuseppe Valenti provided him with his first instruction in music composition. Born to an aristocratic family, Sorkocevic studied music under the kapellmeister along with his two sisters and brother Miho. Valenti was affiliated with the Dubrovnik cathedral and provided music instruction for the children of local aristocratic families. As a young man Luka went to Rome and resided there from 1757 to 1762 receiving instruction in composition from Rinaldo da Capua. After his return to Dubrovnik, Luka entered the civil service and from age eighteen until his death held various administrative, judicial, and diplomatic posts. In 1781 he was named ambassador to the imperial court in Vienna. While there, he kept a journal describing among other things the musical life of Vienna. He wrote of meetings with Gluck, Haydn, and Metastasio and he recounted attending events including concerts, operas, stage performances and other musical experiences.

Although Sorkocevic did not assign dates to his musical compositions. Most of his writing was done between 1750 and 1770. He busied himself with his musical compostions for approximately twenty years. During the twenty-year period, his instrumental compositions are generally entitled Overture or Sinfonia. His work embraces eight symphonies, one sonata, an overture in three movements, a duo for violin and violoncello with harpsichord, and two vocal compositions. His most interesting works are his symphonies. With one exception they are in three movements and represent a transition between baroque music and classicism in both form and content.

Upon his return to Dubrovnik following his service as ambassador to the imperial court in Vienna, Sorkočević suffered from a number of chronic arthritic illnesses. The constant pain from which he suffered became overbearing which led him to jump from the third floor window of his residence on September 11, 1789 resulting in his death from suicide.