Concerti Grossi Opus 6 is considered to be the first collection of mature compositions of this genre. Corelli is believed to have composed all Concerti Grossi Op.6 in the 1680s, but the first edition was not published until 1714; the most famous Concerto Grosso in this collection is Concert No. 8, the so-called Christmas concert (fatte per la notte di Natale). Like its seven previous concerts, this concert is more like a church sonata, sometimes there are changes in tempo within the individual movements.
In the original the soloist group - consisting of two violins and a cello - is accompanied by a string orchestra; in this transcription by Carlo Balmelli the soloists are two clarinets and one bassoon accompanied and contrasted by a woodwind ensemble. (Edition Symphonic Works)