This Week in Classical Music: April 6, 2020.Merulo and the painters. Claudio Merulo, the famous Italian composer, keyboardist and music publisher of the Renaissance, was born on April 8th of 1533 in Correggio, a town in the Emilia-Romagna (Correggio is also the birthplace of the famous High Renaissance painter who took his name after the town).In Correggio, Merulo studied with Tuttovale Menon, a composer who had previously worked at the court of Ferrara, one of the musical centers of Italy.Merulo probably also studied with Adrian Willaert in Venice.At the age of 23, he was appointed organist at Brescia Cathedral.Just one year later, he was elected the second organist at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice (the basilica had two organs), even though a luminary like Andrea Gabrieli was also in contention.When in 1566 Merulo took over the position of the first organist, Gabrieli was made the second organist.Merulo stayed at San Marco for 27 years; this was a very productive period, as he composed music for services at the basilica and secular music, for the festivities thrown by the city and its nobility.In 1584 Merulo left Venice and moved to Parma to serve at the court of Duke Ottavio Farnese.He was made organist of the Cathedral of Parma, married (for the third time) a local noblewoman and lived, quite prosperously, in a large house near the Cathedral.He died in Parma on May 4th of 1604.The dome of the Parma Cathedral is famous for a large fresco, Assumption of theVirgin, that covers its dome.The creator of this fresco is none other than Antonio da Correggio.
During his life Merulo was known for his keyboard compositions.We’ll hear three pieces by Merulo: one for the organ, Toccata quinta del secondo tono, from Merulo’s First Book of Organ Toccatas (here).It’s performed by the organist Massimiliano Raschietti.Here’s a piece for the harpsichord, Ricercare primo.It’s performed by Marco Mencoboni.And finally, some music that is not for a keyboard instrument.Merulo wrote many motets and madrigals.Here’s a motet, Innocentes pro Christo, from his Libro Primus Sacrarum Cantionum.It’s performed by the Modus Ensemble, Mauro Marchetti conducting.
The portrait, above, is by Annibale Caracci, renowned for his frescoes in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome.Caracci was born in Bologna, a city in Emilia-Romagna not far from Merulo’s Correggio.
Claudio Merulo, 2020
This Week in Classical Music: April 6, 2020. Merulo and the painters. Claudio Merulo, the famous Italian composer, keyboardist and music publisher of the Renaissance, was born on April
8th of 1533 in Correggio, a town in the Emilia-Romagna (Correggio is also the birthplace of the famous High Renaissance painter who took his name after the town). In Correggio, Merulo studied with Tuttovale Menon, a composer who had previously worked at the court of Ferrara, one of the musical centers of Italy. Merulo probably also studied with Adrian Willaert in Venice. At the age of 23, he was appointed organist at Brescia Cathedral. Just one year later, he was elected the second organist at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice (the basilica had two organs), even though a luminary like Andrea Gabrieli was also in contention. When in 1566 Merulo took over the position of the first organist, Gabrieli was made the second organist. Merulo stayed at San Marco for 27 years; this was a very productive period, as he composed music for services at the basilica and secular music, for the festivities thrown by the city and its nobility. In 1584 Merulo left Venice and moved to Parma to serve at the court of Duke Ottavio Farnese. He was made organist of the Cathedral of Parma, married (for the third time) a local noblewoman and lived, quite prosperously, in a large house near the Cathedral. He died in Parma on May 4th of 1604. The dome of the Parma Cathedral is famous for a large fresco, Assumption of the Virgin, that covers its dome. The creator of this fresco is none other than Antonio da Correggio.
During his life Merulo was known for his keyboard compositions. We’ll hear three pieces by Merulo: one for the organ, Toccata quinta del secondo tono, from Merulo’s First Book of Organ Toccatas (here). It’s performed by the organist Massimiliano Raschietti. Here’s a piece for the harpsichord, Ricercare primo. It’s performed by Marco Mencoboni. And finally, some music that is not for a keyboard instrument. Merulo wrote many motets and madrigals. Here’s a motet, Innocentes pro Christo, from his Libro Primus Sacrarum Cantionum. It’s performed by the Modus Ensemble, Mauro Marchetti conducting.
The portrait, above, is by Annibale Caracci, renowned for his frescoes in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. Caracci was born in Bologna, a city in Emilia-Romagna not far from Merulo’s Correggio.