Lodovico Grossi da Viadana
Encyclopedia
Lodovico Grossi da Viadana (usually Lodovico Viadana, though his family name was Grossi; c. 1560 – 2 May 1627) was an Italian composer, teacher, and Franciscan
friar of the Order of Minor Observants. He was the first significant figure to make use of the newly developed technique of figured bass
, one of the musical devices which was to define the end of the Renaissance
and beginning of the Baroque
eras in music.
). According to a document dating from about 150 years after his death, he was a member of the Grossi family but took the name of his birth city, Viadana, when he entered the order of the Minor Observants prior to 1588 (Mompellio 2001). Though there is no contemporary evidence, it has been claimed that he studied with Costanzo Porta
(Mompellio 2001), becoming choirmaster at the cathedral in Mantua
by 1594. In 1597 he went to Rome
, and in 1602 he became choirmaster at the cathedral of San Luca in Mantua. He held a succession of posts at various cathedrals in Italy, including Concordia (near Venice
), and Fano, on the east coast of Italy, where he was maestro di cappella from 1610 to 1612 (Mompellio 2001). For three years, 1614–17, he held a position in his religious order which covered the entire province of Bologna (including Ferrara
, Mantua and Piacenza
). By 1623 he had moved to Busseto
, and later he worked at the convent of Santa Andrea, in Gualtieri, near Parma. He died in Gualtieri
(Mompellio 2001).
technique of basso continuo, and its notational method, known as figured bass
. While he did not invent the method—figured basses occur in published sources from at least as early as 1597 (Williams and Ledbetter 2001)—he was the first to use it in a widely-distributed collection of sacred music (Cento concerti con il basso continuo), which he published in Venice in 1602. Agostino Agazzari
in 1607 published a treatise describing how to interpret the new figured bass, though it is clear that many performers had by this time already learned the new method, at least in the most progressive musical centers in Italy.
Viadana composed mostly sacred music: masses
, Psalms, magnificat
s, motet
s, and lamentations
, though there are two books of secular canzonette
and a book of eight-voice Sinfonia musicali. His earlier music is clearly in a Renaissance
style, strictly a cappella with balanced polyphony
between the voices, but after 1602 he wrote increasingly in an early Baroque style, with frequent concertato
passages, and always with a basso continuo. He also used the monodic
style, especially in his later works, and some of his Psalm settings (for example the Salmi op. 27, for four spatially separated choruses) are progressive works in the Venetian polychoral style
. In addition, some of his later works anticipate the later instrumental concerto
: they indicate specific instrumentation—still not a widely used practice—and they involve back-and-forth dialog between groups of voices and instruments.
He also wrote some secular music, but the quantity is limited as may be expected from a member of a strict religious order. These include two volumes of canzonetta
s (one for three, and one for four voices) and a volume of instrumental sinfonia
s, which are actually more like typical canzona
s (terminology was loose in the decades right around 1600: what one composer called a sinfonia, another might call a fantasia
, canzona, or a ricercar
). In the sinfonias each individual composition bears the name of a different town in Italy: they can almost be conceived as an early kind of program music.
Viadana's music was influential not only in Italy, but also in Germany, on composers such as Michael Praetorius
, Johann Hermann Schein and Heinrich Schütz
. It was largely through Viadana that the concertato style arrived in Germany
, the country that was to develop it most eagerly in the early 17th century.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar of the Order of Minor Observants. He was the first significant figure to make use of the newly developed technique of figured bass
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
, one of the musical devices which was to define the end of the Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
and beginning of the Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
eras in music.
Life
He was born in Viadana, a town in the province of Mantua (ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
). According to a document dating from about 150 years after his death, he was a member of the Grossi family but took the name of his birth city, Viadana, when he entered the order of the Minor Observants prior to 1588 (Mompellio 2001). Though there is no contemporary evidence, it has been claimed that he studied with Costanzo Porta
Costanzo Porta
Costanzo Porta was an Italian composer of the Renaissance, and a representative of what is known today as the Venetian School. He was highly praised throughout his life both as a composer and a teacher, and had a reputation especially as an expert contrapuntist.-Biography:Porta was born in Cremona...
(Mompellio 2001), becoming choirmaster at the cathedral in Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
by 1594. In 1597 he went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and in 1602 he became choirmaster at the cathedral of San Luca in Mantua. He held a succession of posts at various cathedrals in Italy, including Concordia (near Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
), and Fano, on the east coast of Italy, where he was maestro di cappella from 1610 to 1612 (Mompellio 2001). For three years, 1614–17, he held a position in his religious order which covered the entire province of Bologna (including Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, Mantua and Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
). By 1623 he had moved to Busseto
Busseto
Busseto is a comune in the province of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy. It was the capital of Stato Pallavicino. Opera composer Giuseppe Verdi was born in the nearby village of Le Roncole and he moved there in 1824...
, and later he worked at the convent of Santa Andrea, in Gualtieri, near Parma. He died in Gualtieri
Gualtieri
Gualtieri is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km northwest of Bologna and about 25 km north of Reggio Emilia on the right bank of the Po River...
(Mompellio 2001).
Music and significance
Viadana is important in the development of the early BaroqueBaroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
technique of basso continuo, and its notational method, known as figured bass
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
. While he did not invent the method—figured basses occur in published sources from at least as early as 1597 (Williams and Ledbetter 2001)—he was the first to use it in a widely-distributed collection of sacred music (Cento concerti con il basso continuo), which he published in Venice in 1602. Agostino Agazzari
Agostino Agazzari
Agostino Agazzari was an Italian composer and music theorist.-Life:Agazzari was born in Siena to an aristocratic family. After working in Rome, as a teacher at the Roman College, he returned to Siena in 1607, becoming first organist and later choirmaster of the cathedral there...
in 1607 published a treatise describing how to interpret the new figured bass, though it is clear that many performers had by this time already learned the new method, at least in the most progressive musical centers in Italy.
Viadana composed mostly sacred music: masses
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...
, Psalms, magnificat
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
s, motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
s, and lamentations
Lamentations (music)
The Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet have been set by various composers.-England:Thomas Tallis made two famous sets of the Lamentations. Scored for five voices , they show a sophisticated use of imitation, and are noted for their expressiveness. The settings are of the first two lessons for...
, though there are two books of secular canzonette
Canzonetta
In music, a canzonetta was a popular Italian secular vocal composition which originated around 1560...
and a book of eight-voice Sinfonia musicali. His earlier music is clearly in a Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
style, strictly a cappella with balanced polyphony
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
between the voices, but after 1602 he wrote increasingly in an early Baroque style, with frequent concertato
Concertato
Concertato is a term in early Baroque music referring to either a genre or a style of music in which groups of instruments or voices share a melody, usually in alternation, and almost always over a basso continuo...
passages, and always with a basso continuo. He also used the monodic
Monody
In poetry, the term monody has become specialized to refer to a poem in which one person laments another's death....
style, especially in his later works, and some of his Psalm settings (for example the Salmi op. 27, for four spatially separated choruses) are progressive works in the Venetian polychoral style
Venetian polychoral style
The Venetian polychoral style was a type of music of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras which involved spatially separate choirs singing in alternation...
. In addition, some of his later works anticipate the later instrumental concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
: they indicate specific instrumentation—still not a widely used practice—and they involve back-and-forth dialog between groups of voices and instruments.
He also wrote some secular music, but the quantity is limited as may be expected from a member of a strict religious order. These include two volumes of canzonetta
Canzonetta
In music, a canzonetta was a popular Italian secular vocal composition which originated around 1560...
s (one for three, and one for four voices) and a volume of instrumental sinfonia
Sinfonia
Sinfonia is the Italian word for symphony. In English it most commonly refers to a 17th- or 18th-century orchestral piece used as an introduction, interlude, or postlude to an opera, oratorio, cantata, or suite...
s, which are actually more like typical canzona
Canzona
In the 16th century an instrumental chanson; later, a piece for ensemble in several sections or tempos...
s (terminology was loose in the decades right around 1600: what one composer called a sinfonia, another might call a fantasia
Fantasia (music)
The fantasia is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form ....
, canzona, or a ricercar
Ricercar
A ricercar is a type of late Renaissance and mostly early Baroque instrumental composition. The term means to search out, and many ricercars serve a preludial function to "search out" the key or mode of a following piece...
). In the sinfonias each individual composition bears the name of a different town in Italy: they can almost be conceived as an early kind of program music.
Viadana's music was influential not only in Italy, but also in Germany, on composers such as Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius
Michael Praetorius was a German composer, organist, and music theorist. He was one of the most versatile composers of his age, being particularly significant in the development of musical forms based on Protestant hymns, many of which reflect an effort to make better the relationship between...
, Johann Hermann Schein and Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and often considered to be one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi...
. It was largely through Viadana that the concertato style arrived in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the country that was to develop it most eagerly in the early 17th century.
Sources
- Mompellio, Federico. 1980. "Lodovico Grossi da Viadana" in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie. 20 vol. London, Macmillan Publishers Ltd. (ISBN 1-56159-174-2)
- Bukofzer, ManfredManfred BukofzerManfred Bukofzer was a German-American musicologist and humanist. He studied at Heidelberg University and the Stern conservatory in Berlin, but left Germany in 1933, going to Basle, where he received his doctorate. In 1939 he moved to the United States where he remained, becoming a U.S. citizen...
. 1947. Music in the Baroque Era. New York, W.W. Norton & Co. (ISBN 0-393-09745-5) - Haack, Helmut. 1974. Die Anfänge des Generalbass-Satzes: die ‘'Cento concerti ecclesiastici'’ (1602) von Lodovico Viadana. 2 vols. Münchner Veröffentlichungen zur Musikgeschichte 22. Tutzing: Schneider. (ISBN 3795201306)
- Mompellio, Federico. 1967. Lodovico Viadana, musicista fra due secoli XVI–XVII. Florence:
- Mompellio, Federico. 2001. "Viadana, Lodovico". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan.
- Reese, GustaveGustave ReeseGustave Reese was an American musicologist and teacher. Reese is known mainly for his work on medieval and Renaissance music, particularly with his two publications Music in the Middle Ages and Music in the Renaissance ; these two books remain the standard reference works for these two eras,...
. 1954. Music in the Renaissance. New York, W.W. Norton & Co. (ISBN 0-393-09530-4) - Roche, Jerome. 1984. North Italian Church Music in the Age of Monteverdi. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (ISBN 0193161184)
- Williams, Peter, and David Ledbetter. 2001. "Continuo". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan.