In the Baroque, San Petronio became an influential center of vocal and instrumental music famous throughout northern and central Italy. With the appointment of Maurizio Cazzati in 1657, special emphasis was placed on developing instrumental music and Bologna became a leading light in the development of sonata and concerto forms. Cazzati founded the repertory of music for trumpet and strings so peculiar to San Petronio. This music became an important part of the festival celebrations until 1696, when the regular orchestra was dissolved and only the choir and the choirmaster were maintained on the payroll. This forced many instrumentalists to leave, thus helping to make their style known outside Bologna, in Italy and abroad.

Fest of Saint Petronio, Bologna