Page 335 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

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an innovative use of harmony, unparalleled Venice under Giovanni Gabrieli. In 1617, servant to the wealthy dramatist and
in Renaissance music, which won him following his return to Germany, he was poet Giulio Strozzi, who adopted Barbara
many admirers in later centuries. appointed kapellmeister at the court of and may well have been her biological
the electors (rulers) of Saxony in Dresden. father. Strozzi studied under the
His settings of biblical and sacred texts composer Francesco Cavalli and was a
ORLANDO GIBBONS transformed Lutheran church music, member of the Accademia degli Unisoni
1583–1625 ranging from early psalm settings, (Academy of the Like-Minded), a group
Psalmen Davids (1619), to the great of intellectuals founded by Giulio Strozzi.
Orlando Gibbons came from a musical Christmas Oratorio (1664), and three She published eight volumes of music,
English family. A celebrated keyboard a cappella Passions (1665), dramatizing mostly arias and cantatas for solo voice.
player, he was appointed organist the trial and death of Jesus. Most are settings of poems dealing with
of London’s Chapel Royal at the love and its pains, including the cantata
age of 21 and later became organist Lagrime mie (“My tears”) and the aria
at Westminster Abbey. His sacred JOHANN HERMANN SCHEIN “Che si può fare” (“What can I do”).
compositions included popular anthems, 1586–1630
such as “O clap your hands together”
for Church of England services. Among Alongside Schütz, Johann Hermann MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER
his secular works, he won the greatest Schein was a key figure in bringing 1643–1704
fame for songs such as “The Silver Swan” Italian Baroque influences into German
and “What Is Our Life” written in the music. A native of Saxony, in 1616 he From a family of painters, French
madrigal style of which he was a master. was appointed to the prestigious post composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier
His volume Parthenia with pieces for of cantor at Leipzig’s Thomas Church. switched his allegiance to music after
the virginals (a smaller version of the An early publication, Banchetto being influenced by the composer
harpsichord) was the first collection of musicale (“Musical banquet,” 1617), was Giacomo Carissimi in Rome. On his
keyboard music published in England. one of his few instrumental collections. return to Paris, he held various posts,
His vocal music includes both secular including that of composer to Louis
and sacred works. An outstanding work XIV’s cousin, the Duchesse de Guise.
GIROLAMO FRESCOBALDI is Israelsbrünnlein (“Fountains of Israel”) He worked with the dramatist Molière,
1583–1643 (1623), a collection of 26 motets based on writing music for plays, including Le
Old Testament texts written in the style Malade imaginaire (1673), and wrote a
Born in Ferrara in northern Italy, Girolamo of Italian madrigals. successful opera, Médée (1693), based
Frescobaldi moved to Rome while still in on a play by Pierre Corneille. His best-
his teens and was appointed organist at JOHANN JAKOB FROBERGER known sacred works are dramatic
St. Peter’s Basilica in 1608. Apart from a motets (or short oratorios) written for
period as court organist to the Medici 1616–1667 the Jesuit community. His reputation
rulers of Florence, he remained at suffered from comparisons with his
St. Peter’s for the rest of his life. His Born in Stuttgart, Johann Jakob archrival Jean-Baptiste Lully until his work
music, mostly for organ, has a strongly Froberger introduced Italian and French was rediscovered in the 20th century.
contemplative, mystical quality. Even keyboard styles into German music. He
his toccatas (pieces written to allow studied in Rome with Frescobaldi before
performers to show off their skills) are being appointed organist at the court of JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH
remarkable, less for virtuoso display than the Habsburg emperor in Vienna in 1641. 1735–1782
for dramatic intensity. One of his most An organist as well as harpsichordist, he
famous publications was Fiori musicali was the first German composer to write The youngest of J.S. Bach’s surviving
(Musical Flowers, 1635), a collection of important works for the harpsichord. sons, Johann Christian Bach studied in
organ pieces for church services. Most influential were his dance suites, Berlin and Italy, where he was briefly
with pieces drawing on French tradition organist at Milan cathedral and had
in which each movement is inspired by his first opera, Artaserse, performed
HEINRICH SCHÜTZ a different dance form. in Naples. In 1762, he was appointed
1585–1672 composer at the King’s Theatre in
London, remaining in Britain for the rest
Widely credited as the greatest German BARBARA STROZZI of his life. He became a dominant figure
composer before J.S. Bach, Heinrich 1619–1677 in English musical life, partly through
Schütz was a major figure in introducing the series of highly popular concerts
the new styles of the Italian Baroque to The Venetian Barbara Strozzi was he organized each year with his
Germany. An early patron, Maurice of known as a singer as well as composer. countryman Carl Friedrich Abel. Apart
Hesse-Kassel paid for him to study in Her mother was Isabella Garzoni, a from his operas, he was known for his

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