Biography
Information regarding Fontana’s personal background and education survives only in a commemorative volume issued after his death. Records indicate that he pursued his career in Rome, Venice, and Padua. The core of his output comprises solo sonatas for violin and bass together with a concertante work for bassoon. Within these pieces, phrases return at intervals yet receive fresh ornamental elaboration on every appearance. Irregular rhythmic groupings shape the metric surface through sudden triplets and successive diminutions. Functional relationships between keys remain absent from the harmonic language. Giovanni Fontana occupies a pivotal place in music history as an early innovator in the development of the sonata.