Luigi Zenobi
Encyclopedia
Luigi Zenobi also known as Luigi del Cornetto, was a virtuoso cornett
player. Born in Ancona, Italy, Zenobi moved to Vienna
, where he was employed by Maximilian II
as the court cornett player. In 1583, he relocated to Ferrara
and became the most highly paid musician in the Este Court
at the time. By 1587, he had become music director of the Oratory of Filippo Neri. Zenobi returned to Vienna sometime before Alfonso II d'Este's death in 1597. His letters indicate that he spent his remaining years in Naples
under the employment of Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro Andrade y Portugal
.
Zenobi wrote numerous letters, of which 18 survive; his writings indicate that he was a painter
, miniaturist
, poet
, and amateur musicologist
. He wrote madrigal
verse and a cycle of one hundred sonnets on the death of Maximilian II. His most famous writing is his long letter to an unnamed prince, which he probably wrote around 1600. In it, Zenobi describes the qualities of a perfect musician, and discusses the characteristics of good singers, music directors, composers, string and wind players, and accompanists.
Cornett
The cornett, cornetto or zink is an early wind instrument, dating from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was used in what are now called alta capellas or wind ensembles. It is not to be confused with the trumpet-like instrument cornet.-Construction:There are three basic types of...
player. Born in Ancona, Italy, Zenobi moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he was employed by Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
as the court cornett player. In 1583, he relocated to 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...
and became the most highly paid musician in the Este Court
Este
The House of Este is a European princely dynasty. It is split into two branches; the elder is known as the House of Welf-Este or House of Welf historically rendered in English, Guelf or Guelph...
at the time. By 1587, he had become music director of the Oratory of Filippo Neri. Zenobi returned to Vienna sometime before Alfonso II d'Este's death in 1597. His letters indicate that he spent his remaining years in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
under the employment of Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro Andrade y Portugal
Fernando Ruiz de Castro Andrade y Portugal
Fernando Ruiz de Castro Andrade y Portugal was a Spanish nobleman who was Viceroy of Naples from 1599 to 1601. He was the 6th count of Lemos, an old title from Galicia, centered in the lands around the town of Monforte de Lemos. He was also 3rd marquis of Sarria and a Grandee of Spain.He was...
.
Zenobi wrote numerous letters, of which 18 survive; his writings indicate that he was a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, miniaturist
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
, poet
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, and amateur musicologist
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
. He wrote madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
verse and a cycle of one hundred sonnets on the death of Maximilian II. His most famous writing is his long letter to an unnamed prince, which he probably wrote around 1600. In it, Zenobi describes the qualities of a perfect musician, and discusses the characteristics of good singers, music directors, composers, string and wind players, and accompanists.