Italian Baroque composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) died at such a young age that we might wonder what might have been. Nevertheless, his accomplishments over his brief life are many and his reputation grew after his death. One of his greatest contributions is the general development of opera buffa, contributing to the growing importance of Italian comic opera. His La serva padrona, the intermezzo for Il prigioniero superbo began to enhance his reputation even far from Naples. He also was one of many to write music for the Stabat Mater (Mother Stood), a liturgical art music form based on a prescribed text involving the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with His mother standing beneath Him.