Unico Wilhelm Van Wassenaer

Baroque-era Dutch Composer and Nobleman

Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer (1692–1766) was a Dutch nobleman who is now recognized as a composer of significant Baroque music, although for many years his identity as a composer was unknown. He held various positions in the Dutch Republic, including that of diplomat and administrator, but his musical talents were not widely known during his lifetime. It wasn't until the 20th century that musicologist Albert Dunning identified Van Wassenaer as the true composer of the Concerti Armonici, a set of six Baroque concertos that were previously attributed to other composers such as Pergolesi and Ricciotti. These works are notable for their melodic beauty and harmonic richness and have since been recorded and performed by various ensembles. Beyond the Concerti Armonici, there is limited information about Van Wassenaer's complete musical output or any other specific albums attributed to him. His contribution to the Baroque repertoire is now appreciated, and he is considered an important figure in Dutch musical history.