Dall'Abaco was born in
Verona to renowned guitarist Damiano dall'Abaco. He is thought to have been a pupil of
Torelli's from whom he would have learned violin and cello. He became a violinist with
Tommaso Antonio Vitali in
Modena, and in 1704 joined the court of
Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria in Munich as
Kammermusiker. After only a few months, he fled with the court to
Brussels following Maximilian's defeat at the
Battle of Blenheim. When he went into exile with the court, he spent time in France and absorbed some of the influences there. On Maximilian's restoration and return to Munich in 1715, Dall'Abaco was appointed
Concert-meister. He continued to compose
chamber music at the
French and
Dutch courts until 1740, when he retired. Dall'Abaco's music is especially indebted to
Vivaldi and
Corelli. Dall'Abaco died on his 67th birthday. While in
Brussels, Dall'Abaco fathered
Joseph Abaco (1710–1805). == Published works ==