June 20, 2016.The brothers Marcello.Benedetto Marcello was born on June 24th of 1686 in Venice.Of a noble family, he was a younger brother of Alessandro, also a composer.Benedetto followed in Alessandro’s steps, becoming a member of the Grand Council of Venice at the age of 20.Their father wanted Marcello to study law and Benedetto obliged.In 1711 he became a member of the Council of Forty, the government of Venice.In 1730 he was sent as a governor to Pula, Istria, then a territory of the Venetian Republic, now part of Croatia.Eight years later he returned to Italy, in rather poor health, and was hired by the city of Brescia as chief financial officer.He died a year later, in 1739, of tuberculosis.
Benedetto studied music from an early age; among his teachers was Francesco Gasparini, a well-known composer and teacher (Johann Sebastian Bach was familiar with Gasparini’s compositions). Though a prolific composer, he never held a musical appointment, which put him in a different category compared to professional musicians: in Italy there was a clear social separation between “maestri” and “dilettanti.” That didn’t stop him from being one of the most influential composers of his time.One of Benedetto’s major works was the setting of psalms he called “Estro-poetico armonico.”It was published in eight volumes between 1724 and 1726.Here’s one of the psalms, Mentre io tutta ripongo in Dio, a setting for four voices.It’s performed by the ensemble Cantus Cölln, Konrad Junghänel conducting and playing the lute.In 1731, when he was in Pula, he wrote an oratorio Il piano e il riso delle quattro stagioni dell'anno (Lamentation and Joy of the Four Seasons of the Year). Here’s a Symphony from the oratorio. It’s performed by I Virtuosi delle Muse under the direction of Stefano Molardi.
Some sources say that Alessandro Marcello was born on February 1st, 1673, others have his birthday almost four years earlier, on August 24th, 1669.The latter is more likely, considering that he was admitted to the Grand Council of Venice in 1690: it’s much more probable that he became a member at the age of 21 rather than 17.Highly educated and a man of varied interests, he served as ambassador, was a prolific writer, for a short time indulged in painting and was a talented composer.Alessandro was a member of the prestigious Accademia degli Animosi, the Venetian branch of the Roman Accademiadegli Arcadi.He also collected musical instruments, which are now exhibited in Rome, in the National museum of musical instruments.Alessandro wrote a number of cantatas, and also an Oboe concerto, which is often attributed to his brother Benedetto.Johann Sebastian Bach liked it so much that he transcribed it for the harpsichord; in the catalogue of Bach’s works it has number BWV 974.Here’s the original, from Alessandro Marcello.The soloist is Paolo Grazzi, Andrea Marcon is leading the Venice Baroque Orchestra.
The brothers Marcello, 2016
June 20, 2016. The brothers Marcello. Benedetto Marcello was born on June 24th of 1686 in Venice. Of a noble family, he was a younger brother of Alessandro, also a composer. Benedetto followed in Alessandro’s steps, becoming a member of the Grand Council of Venice at the
age of 20. Their father wanted Marcello to study law and Benedetto obliged. In 1711 he became a member of the Council of Forty, the government of Venice. In 1730 he was sent as a governor to Pula, Istria, then a territory of the Venetian Republic, now part of Croatia. Eight years later he returned to Italy, in rather poor health, and was hired by the city of Brescia as chief financial officer. He died a year later, in 1739, of tuberculosis.
Benedetto studied music from an early age; among his teachers was Francesco Gasparini, a well-known composer and teacher (Johann Sebastian Bach was familiar with Gasparini’s compositions). Though a prolific composer, he never held a musical appointment, which put him in a different category compared to professional musicians: in Italy there was a clear social separation between “maestri” and “dilettanti.” That didn’t stop him from being one of the most influential composers of his time. One of Benedetto’s major works was the setting of psalms he called “Estro-poetico armonico.” It was published in eight volumes between 1724 and 1726. Here’s one of the psalms, Mentre io tutta ripongo in Dio, a setting for four voices. It’s performed by the ensemble Cantus Cölln, Konrad Junghänel conducting and playing the lute. In 1731, when he was in Pula, he wrote an oratorio Il piano e il riso delle quattro stagioni dell'anno (Lamentation and Joy of the Four Seasons of the Year). Here’s a Symphony from the oratorio. It’s performed by I Virtuosi delle Muse under the direction of Stefano Molardi.
Some sources say that Alessandro Marcello was born on February 1st, 1673, others have his birthday almost four years earlier, on August 24th, 1669. The latter is more likely, co
nsidering that he was admitted to the Grand Council of Venice in 1690: it’s much more probable that he became a member at the age of 21 rather than 17. Highly educated and a man of varied interests, he served as ambassador, was a prolific writer, for a short time indulged in painting and was a talented composer. Alessandro was a member of the prestigious Accademia degli Animosi, the Venetian branch of the Roman Accademia degli Arcadi. He also collected musical instruments, which are now exhibited in Rome, in the National museum of musical instruments. Alessandro wrote a number of cantatas, and also an Oboe concerto, which is often attributed to his brother Benedetto. Johann Sebastian Bach liked it so much that he transcribed it for the harpsichord; in the catalogue of Bach’s works it has number BWV 974. Here’s the original, from Alessandro Marcello. The soloist is Paolo Grazzi, Andrea Marcon is leading the Venice Baroque Orchestra.