Gian Francesco de Majo
Encyclopedia
Gian Francesco de Majo was an Italian composer
. He is chiefly known for his more than 20 opera
s. He also composed a considerable amount of sacred works, including oratorio
s, cantata
s, and mass
es.
. He began his musical education with his father and then studied with his uncle Gennaro Manna
and his great uncle Francesco Feo
. At the age of 13 he became the harpsichordist
at the royal chapel in Naples and at 15 began helping his father with his duties there as maestro di capella. In 1758 he was made second organist at the royal chapel. On 7 February 1759 his first opera
, Ricimero, re dei goti, premiered in Parma. This was soon followed by a series of successful operas mounted in Naples.
In 1761 and 1763 Majo traveled to Northern Italy where he presented several of his compositions and studied for a short period with Giovanni Battista Martini
. After a short time in Naples, he went to the court in Vienna where he commissioned to write the opera Alcide negli orti esperidi for the corronation of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
. He then spent some time in Mannheim and Madrid before returning to Italy in 1765.
Majo continued to work as an organist at the royal chapel in Naples, ultimately succeeding his father as maestro di capella in 1767. Having contracted tuberculosis
in 1760, Majo ultimately succombed to the disease and died of it in 1770.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is chiefly known for his more than 20 opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s. He also composed a considerable amount of sacred works, including oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s, cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s, and mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
es.
Life and career
Born in Naples, Majo was the son of composer Giuseppe de MajoGiuseppe de Majo
Giuseppe de Majo was an Italian composer and organist. He was the father of the composer Gian Francesco de Majo. His compositional output consists of 10 operas, an oratorio, a concerto for 2 violins, and a considerable amount of sacred music.-Life and career:Born in Naples, Majo spent most of his...
. He began his musical education with his father and then studied with his uncle Gennaro Manna
Gennaro Manna
Gennaro Manna was an Italian composer based in Naples. His compositional output includes 13 operas and more than 150 sacred works, including several oratorios.-References:...
and his great uncle Francesco Feo
Francesco Feo
Francesco Feo was an Italian composer, known chiefly for his operas. He was born and died in Naples, where most of his operas were premièred.-Life:...
. At the age of 13 he became the harpsichordist
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
at the royal chapel in Naples and at 15 began helping his father with his duties there as maestro di capella. In 1758 he was made second organist at the royal chapel. On 7 February 1759 his first opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, Ricimero, re dei goti, premiered in Parma. This was soon followed by a series of successful operas mounted in Naples.
In 1761 and 1763 Majo traveled to Northern Italy where he presented several of his compositions and studied for a short period with Giovanni Battista Martini
Giovanni Battista Martini
Giovanni Battista Martini , also known as Padre Martini, was an Italian musician.-Biography:Martini was born at Bologna....
. After a short time in Naples, he went to the court in Vienna where he commissioned to write the opera Alcide negli orti esperidi for the corronation of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
. He then spent some time in Mannheim and Madrid before returning to Italy in 1765.
Majo continued to work as an organist at the royal chapel in Naples, ultimately succeeding his father as maestro di capella in 1767. Having contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1760, Majo ultimately succombed to the disease and died of it in 1770.