Alberti Bass

Stereotyped figures of accompaniment for the pianist's (or harpsichordist's) left hand, consisting of broken chords.  They are named for Domenico Alberti (1710-40?), who used them extensively.  Similar broken-chord patterns occur in the works of the virginalists (c.1600) and in various keyboard compositions of the 17th century.  They are common in the works of Mozart, Haydn, and early Beethoven.