Giovanni Battista, maestro di cappella of the cathedral church of Bologna, was born at Padua about the year 1657. His works, which are very voluminous, consist of psalms, masses, motets with instrumental parts, and sonatas for the violin; on which last-mentioned instrument he was an admirable performer. It is said that he was the instructor of Corelli. His fifth opera, in particular, containing twelve sonatas for two violins and a bass, is written in a style wonderfully grave and pathetic, and abounding with evidences of great learning and fine invention. The first and third operas of Corelli are apparently modelled after this work. Bassani was one of the first who composed motets for a single voice, with accompaniments of violins; a practice which is liable to objection, as it assimilates church-music too nearly to that of the chamber.