Tarquinia Molza
Encyclopedia
Tarquinia Molza was an Italian singer and poet. She was considered a great virtuosa
and many artistic works were dedicated to her; Francesco Patrizi
wrote about her singing in his treatise L'amorosa filosofia, and she was perhaps the first singer to have a published biography dedicated to her (Opuscoli inediti di Tarquinia Molza modenese by D. Vandelli). She was involved with the famous Concerto delle donne
, although whether she sang with them or coached them is not clear. She also played the viola bastarda
.
Molza was born in Modena
, the granddaughter or niece of the poet Francesco Maria Molza. She married Paolo Porrino in 1560 and was widowed by 1579. By 1583 she was living in Ferrara
in the official capacity of lady-in-waiting to Duchess Margherita Gonzaga d'Este
. Molza was dismissed from her position in 1589 because of her affair with Mantuan composer Giaches de Wert
, and returned to Mantua. The unacceptability of the affair apparently had more to do with class than with sexual peccadillo
s—members of the minor nobility (as ladies-in-waiting to the duchess were considered) were not to involve themselves with members of the servant class (as minor composers such as Wert were considered).
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
and many artistic works were dedicated to her; Francesco Patrizi
Francesco Patrizi
Franciscus Patricius was a philosopher and scientist from the Republic of Venice. He was known as a defender of Platonism and an opponent of Aristotelianism...
wrote about her singing in his treatise L'amorosa filosofia, and she was perhaps the first singer to have a published biography dedicated to her (Opuscoli inediti di Tarquinia Molza modenese by D. Vandelli). She was involved with the famous Concerto delle donne
Concerto delle donne
The concerto delle donne was a group of professional female singers in the late Renaissance court of Ferrara, Italy, renowned for their technical and artistic virtuosity. The ensemble was founded by Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara, in 1580 and was active until the court was dissolved in 1597...
, although whether she sang with them or coached them is not clear. She also played the viola bastarda
Viola bastarda
Viola bastarda refers to a highly virtuosic style of composition or extemporaneous performance, as well as to the altered viols created to maximize players' ability to play in this style. In the viola bastarda style, a polyphonic composition is reduced to a single line, while maintaining the same...
.
Molza was born in Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, the granddaughter or niece of the poet Francesco Maria Molza. She married Paolo Porrino in 1560 and was widowed by 1579. By 1583 she was living in 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...
in the official capacity of lady-in-waiting to Duchess Margherita Gonzaga d'Este
Margherita Gonzaga d'Este
Margherita Gonzaga d'Este, Duchess of Ferrara was an Italian noblewoman, the daughter of William I, Duke of Mantua and Eleonora of Austria, and the sister of Vincent I, Duke of Mantua and Anna Caterina Gonzaga. She was the wife of Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara and Modena, whom she married...
. Molza was dismissed from her position in 1589 because of her affair with Mantuan composer Giaches de Wert
Giaches de Wert
Giaches de Wert was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance, active in Italy. Intimately connected with the progressive musical center of Ferrara, he was one of the leaders in developing the style of the late Renaissance madrigal...
, and returned to Mantua. The unacceptability of the affair apparently had more to do with class than with sexual peccadillo
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
s—members of the minor nobility (as ladies-in-waiting to the duchess were considered) were not to involve themselves with members of the servant class (as minor composers such as Wert were considered).