Marco Enrico Bossi
Encyclopedia
Marco Enrico Bossi was an Italian
organist
, composer
, improviser and pedagogue.
, a town in the province of Brescia
, Lombardy
, into a family of musicians. His father, Pietro, was organist at Salò Cathedral, which has a one-manual organ built by Fratelli Serassi from 1865 (opus 684), which was restored in 2000/2001. He had two brothers, Costante Adolfo Bossi
and Pietro Bossi.
He received his musical training at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna
and the Milan Conservatory
, where his teachers included Francesco Sangalli (piano), Amilcare Ponchielli
(composition) and Polibio Fumagalli (organ).
In 1881, Bossi became director of music and organist at Como
Cathedral. Nine years later, he was appointed as professor of organ and harmony at Naples
Conservatory. In addition, he held directorships at conservatories in Venice
(1895-1901), Bologna
(1902-1911) and Rome
(1916-1923), where he established and implemented the standards of organ studies that are still used in Italy today. His notable pupils included Giulio Bas
, Giacomo Benvenuti
, Giorgio Federico Ghedini
, and Gian Francesco Malipiero
. Throughout his career, Bossi made numerous international organ recital tours, which brought him in contact with well-known colleagues such as César Franck
, Marcel Dupré
, Alexandre Guilmant
, Joseph Bonnet
, Camille Saint-Saëns
, Charles M. Courboin, and Karl Straube
.
In November 1924, Bossi embarked on a recital tour to New York and Philadelphia, where he made important appearances at Wanamaker's
department stores in New York and in Philadelphia, where he played the Wanamaker Organ
, the world's largest pipe organ. Bossi died unexpectedly at sea while returning from the United States on February 20, 1925.
1. Caresses
2. Souvenir
3. Scherzando
4. Nocturne
5. Babillage
6. Gondoliera
7. Valse charmante
8. Berceuse
Italy
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...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, composer
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...
, improviser and pedagogue.
Life
Bossi was born in SalòSalò
Salò is a town and commune in the Province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy on the banks of Lake Garda. The city was the capital of Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945, with the ISR often being called the "Republic of Salò" .-History:Salò was founded in the Roman period as Pagus...
, a town in the province of Brescia
Province of Brescia
The Province of Brescia is a Province in Lombardy, Italy. It borders with the province of Sondrio in the N and NW, the province of Bergamo in the W, province of Cremona in the SW and S, the province of Mantova to the S, and to the east, the province of Verona and Trentino .Source for statistical...
, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, into a family of musicians. His father, Pietro, was organist at Salò Cathedral, which has a one-manual organ built by Fratelli Serassi from 1865 (opus 684), which was restored in 2000/2001. He had two brothers, Costante Adolfo Bossi
Costante Adolfo Bossi
Costante Adolfo Bossi was an Italian organist, composer and teacher. He was the brother of Marco Enrico Bossi and Pietro Bossi.He taught at the Milan Conservatory.-External links:*http://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=Bossi_Adolfo_1876...
and Pietro Bossi.
He received his musical training at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and the Milan Conservatory
Milan Conservatory
The Milan Conservatory is a college of music which was established by a royal decree of 1807 in Milan, capital of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. It opened the following year with premises in the cloisters of the Baroque church of Santa Maria della Passione. There were initially 18 boarders,...
, where his teachers included Francesco Sangalli (piano), Amilcare Ponchielli
Amilcare Ponchielli
Amilcare Ponchielli was an Italian composer, largely of operas.-Biography:Born in Paderno Fasolaro, now Paderno Ponchielli, near Cremona, Ponchielli won a scholarship at the age of nine to study music at the Milan Conservatory, writing his first symphony by the time he was ten years old.Two years...
(composition) and Polibio Fumagalli (organ).
In 1881, Bossi became director of music and organist at Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
Cathedral. Nine years later, he was appointed as professor of organ and harmony at 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...
Conservatory. In addition, he held directorships at conservatories in 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...
(1895-1901), Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
(1902-1911) and 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...
(1916-1923), where he established and implemented the standards of organ studies that are still used in Italy today. His notable pupils included Giulio Bas
Giulio Bas
Giulio Bas was an ItalianRomantic composer, and organist.-Life:He studied with Giovanni Tebaldini at the Cappella Marciana and with Marco Enrico Bossi at the Liceo...
, Giacomo Benvenuti
Giacomo Benvenuti
Giacomo Benvenuti was an Italian composer and musicologist. He was the son of organist Cristoforo Benvenuti and studied at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna under Luigi Torchi and Marco Enrico Bossi...
, Giorgio Federico Ghedini
Giorgio Federico Ghedini
Giorgio Federico Ghedini was an Italian composer.-Life:Ghedini was born in Cuneo in 1892. He studied organ, piano and composition in Turin, then graduated in composition in Bologna under Marco Enrico Bossi in 1911...
, and Gian Francesco Malipiero
Gian Francesco Malipiero
Gian Francesco Malipiero was an Italian composer, musicologist, music teacher and editor.-Early years:Born in Venice into an aristocratic family, the grandson of the opera composer Francesco Malipiero, Gian Francesco Malipiero was prevented by family troubles from pursuing his musical education in...
. Throughout his career, Bossi made numerous international organ recital tours, which brought him in contact with well-known colleagues such as César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
, Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
, Alexandre Guilmant
Alexandre Guilmant
Félix-Alexandre Guilmant was a French organist and composer.- Short biography :Guilmant was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer...
, Joseph Bonnet
Joseph Bonnet
Joseph Bonnet was a French composer and organist.One of the major French pipe organ players, Joseph Bonnet was born in Bordeaux. He first studied with his father, an organist at St. Eulalie. At the age of 14, he became official organist, first at St. Nicholas and almost immediately at St. Michael...
, Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
, Charles M. Courboin, and Karl Straube
Karl Straube
Montgomery Rufus Karl/Carl Siegfried Straube was a German church musician , organist, and choral conductor, famous above all for championing the abundant organ music of Max Reger. He studied organ under Heinrich Reimann in Berlin from 1894 to 1897 and became a widely respected concert organist...
.
In November 1924, Bossi embarked on a recital tour to New York and Philadelphia, where he made important appearances at Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
department stores in New York and in Philadelphia, where he played the Wanamaker Organ
Wanamaker Organ
The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational pipe organ in the world, located within a spacious 7-story court at Macy's Center City . The largest organ by some measures is the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ...
, the world's largest pipe organ. Bossi died unexpectedly at sea while returning from the United States on February 20, 1925.
Compositions
Marco Enrico Bossi wrote more than 150 works for various genres (orchestra, five operas, oratorios, choral and chamber music, as well as pieces for piano and organ). His catalog of compositions is still largely unknown, except for his organ works.Organ Solo
- Tempo di Suonata per Organo a Pieno Op. 3
- Ouverture per organo op. 3 no. 3
- Intermezzo Tragico op. 10
- Scherzo in F major op. 49:1
- Scherzo in G minor op. 49:2
- Impromptu à la Chopin Op. 49:3
- Inno Trionfale op. 53
- Res Severa Magnum Gaudium: Prima Suite di 4 pezzi per organo op. 54:
- Preludio
- Allegro moderato
- Corale
- Fuga
- 4 Pieces op. 59:
- Toccata
- Pastorale
- Meditazione
- Offertorio
- First Sonata in D minor op. 60
- Fuga sul tema Feda a Bach op. 62
- Fantaisie op. 64
- Marcia di Processione op. 68
- 6 Pieces op. 70:
- Prélude
- Musette
- Choral
- Scherzo
- Cantabile
- Alleluja Final
- Second Sonata op. 71
- Marche héroïque op. 72
- Siciliana E Giga, Op.73 (arrangement?)
- 3 Pieces op. 74:
- Preghiera
- Siciliana
- Offertorio
- Cantate Domino. Westminster Abbey - Hymne of Glory/Hymne de Gloire op. 76 for organ solo or organ and choirs
- Étude symphonique op. 78
- 3 Pieces op. 92:
- Chant du soir in F major
- Idylle in B major
- Allegretto in A-flat major
- 2 Pieces op. 94:
- Élevation in E-flat major
- Noël in G major
- Scherzo Opus 95
- 3 Pieces op. 97
- Andante con moto
- Aspiration
- Grand Chœur
- 5 Pieces op. 104:
- Entrée Pontificale in C major
- Ave Maria in F major
- Offertoire in D minor
- Résignationin G major
- Rédemption in C major
- Missa pro Sponso et Sponsa Opus 110
- Graduale
- Offertorio
- Communio
- [Savoya-Petrovich.] Marcia Nuziale/Hochzeits-Marsch op. 110 no. 4
- 5 Pieces op. 113:
- Offertorio
- Graduale
- Canzoncina a Maria Vergine
- In memoriam
- Laudate Dominum
- Thema und Variationen op. 115
- 10 Compositions for Organ op. 118:
- Preludio
- Fughetta
- Pastorale
- Angelus à 3
- Toccata di Concerto
- Melodia
- Invocazione
- Marcia festiva
- Intermezzo à 3
- Finale
- Pièce héroïque in D minor op. 128
- Concert Piece in C minor op. 130
- 5 Pieces in free style op. 132
- Legende in D-flat major
- Trauerzug in B-flat minor
- Ländliche Szene in D major
- Stunde der Weihe in B major
- Stunde der Freude in C major
- Improvisation op. 134 no. 2
- 3 Momenti francescani op. 140:
- Fervore
- Colloquio colle rondini
- Beatitudine
- Triptico ... Op. 142
- Meditazione in una Cattedrale op. 144
- 2 Morceaux caractéristiques without opus:
- Preghiera. Fatemi la grazia in E major
- Marcia dei Bardi in A-flat major
- Intermezzo lirico in A-flat major without opus
- Flora mistica without opus
- Postludio in E minor without opus
- Ave Maria without opus
- Scherzo (terzo tempo della Sinfonia tematica) without opus
- Rapsodia without opus
Organ with other instruments
- Ave Maria [#1] Op. 50, organ, voice & violin
- Siciliana E Giga, Op.73
- Adagio in A-flat major op. 84 for Violin and Organ
- Concerto in A minor op. 100 for Organ, String Orchestra, 4 Horns and Timpani
- Entrata Pontificale opus 104 no. 1 for two organs
- Benediction nuptiale for cello & organ, Op. 111/1 (1897)
- Concert Piece in C minor op. 130 for Organ and Orchestra
- Epousailles - Sposalizio op. 134:1
- Méditation Réligieuse (violino, vioncello, arpa e organo)
- Fantasia Sinfonica for organ & orchestra, Op.147
Chamber Music
- Romance in A major op. 89 (1894) for cello or viola and piano
- Four Pieces in the form of a suite op. 99 for violin and piano
- Trio in D minor op. 107 for piano, violin and cello
- Sonata No.1 in E minor, Op.87 for violin and piano
- Sonata No.2 in C major op. 117 for violin and piano
- Trio sinfonico op. 123 for piano, violin and cello
- Santa Caterina da Siena without opus: Poemetto for violin, string quartet, harp, celesta and organ
- Improvviso without opus for flute and piano
Piano
- 7 Waltzes, Op.93 (for piano duet)
- 5 Morceaux op. 95 [opus # doubtful]
- 4 Pièces en forme d’une suite ancienne op. 103
- 4 Morceaux op. 109
- Album for the Youth op. 122
1. Caresses
2. Souvenir
3. Scherzando
4. Nocturne
5. Babillage
6. Gondoliera
7. Valse charmante
8. Berceuse
- Intermezzi goldoniani op. 127
- 6 Kinderstücke, Op.133
- Satire musicali without opus
- Papillons dorés ?without opus
Vocal and orchestra works
- Sinfonica-Ouverture for orchestra in E major, Op. 1
- Salve Regina op. 8
- Missa pro defunctis, for chorus, Op. 83
- Dio sietè buono op. 98
- The Blind op. 112: Lyric Scene for baritone, choir and orchestra
- In memoriam, No. 4, for chorus, Op. 113/4
- Canticum Canticorum op. 120: biblical cantata in three parts for baritone, soprano, choirs, orchestra and organ
- Il Paradiso perduto op. 125: sinfonic poem in one prologue and three parts for soloists, choir, orchestra and organ
- Suite in D minor, Op. 126 (timpani, percussion, harp, strings.)
- Intermezzi Goldoniani op. 127 for string orchestra
- Johanna d’Arc op. 135: a mystery in one prologue and three parts (12 images) for soloists, mixed choir, male choir, children's choirs (boys' and girls' parts), large orchestra and organ
- Il Viandante without opus: lyric drama
- Sanctus et Benedictus without opus for alto and organ
- A Raffaello divino without opus for mixed choir a capella
Sources
- Bossi, Marco Enrico (1885). "Ancora sulla questione degli organi". Gazetta Musicale di Milano, XL/34 (August 23), p. 203.
- Bossi, Marco Enrico & Tebaldini (eds.) (1893/97). Metodo teorico pratico per organo. Milan: Carisch.
- Cominetti, Ennio (1999). Marco Enrico Bossi. Sannicandro Garganico: Gioiosa Editrice.
- Mompellio, Federico (1952). Marco Enrico Bossi. Milan: Ulrico Hoepli.
- various pages on Amazon and sheetmusicplus.com.
External links
- Brief Biography of Enrico Bossi at the Naxos website
- Biographical Dictionary of the Organ | M. Enrico Bossi at www.organ-biography.info (Subscription required)