An Italian composer and violinist he spent the majority of his professional life in London. He composed sonatas, concerto grossi, pieces for flute, harpsichord, and many sonatas. Castrucci was probably a student of Corelli's and most certainly was on more than familiar terms with Handel. (Castrucci conducted the opera orchestras of Handel for two decades.) He was a brilliant violinist and was probably the inventor of the "English violet". ~ Keith Johnson