Biography
Much that we know of Francesco Onofrio Manfredini is supposition and assumption. He was born in Italy in 1684, probably to a musical family. He did take lessons in violin from the great Torelli, and must have become a fine violinist, as we know that he held major playing posts in Bologna. As a composer he left very little, with just 43 published works and a handful of manuscripts. We do know that he became the head of music at St. Philip's Cathedral in Pistoia in 1727, where he remained until his death in 1762. This makes it odd that he did not leave a wealth of sacred music, or was it simply destroyed after his death?
We do know that Manfredini composed oratorios, but only his orchestral works remained in the repertoire. His groups of Concerti Grossi and Sinfonias show a highly accomplished composer, well versed in the mainstream Italian school of composition. Above all they are replete with attractive melodic invention.
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It is music calls for considerable dexterity among the musicians, with little room left for interpretation. The work has largely become popular for the Christmas pastorale, which forms the twelfth concerto.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.