Arcangelo Corelli (February 17, 1653 – January 8, 1713) Coming just before Bach, Vivaldi and Handel. “His compositions are distinguished by a beautiful flow of melody and by a mannerly treatment of the accompanying parts, which he is justly said to have liberated from the strict rules of counterpoint” (from Wikipedia)
Three pieces from his Concerto Grosso Opus 6. He really worked hard on the pieces in opus 6 – or so my sources tell me!
concerto-grosso-allemanda-allegro
concerto-grosso-allegro
concerto-grosso-vivace-allegro3