Boccherini (bok-a-REE-nee) was Italian (as you may have guessed) and was a very successful cellist and composer. Haydn knew him and admired him. His music, mostly chamber music, is beautiful. Musicians in his day usually played in small places (chambers) for small groups. The Infante Louis of Spain employed Boccherini as a chamber-musician and composer. He also worked for Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia who honored Boccherini  with the title of "chamber-composer."

Boccherini  wrote more than 400 works including 90 string quartets, 125 string quintets (nearly all scored for two cellos rather than two violas), 54 trios, and 20 symphonies.

His music will calm your nerves, soothe your soul, and make you thankful that God gave you ears for listening.

Boccherini's Minuet is a very popular piece. If you take violin or piano lessons, you'll probably play it sooner or later. The syncopated rhythm will make you want to dance.