Antonio il Verso
Encyclopedia
Antonio Il Verso was an Italian composer.
Il Verso was born at Piazza Armerina
, and began his musical studies under the guidance of Pietro Vinci
. He was active in Venice
in the last years of the sixteenth century is given in Venice, then the seat of the Venetian school, where he refined his studies in the madrigal
and polyphonic music. Back in Sicily
settled in Palermo where he taught music at the Convent of San Domenico, on Via dei Bambinai. He was an exponent of mannerism
and set to music verses major poets such as Torquato Tasso
and Gabriello Chiabrera
in addition to the major poets of the period. He often utilised melodies of other composers, modifying their style but not distorting their compositional integrity. In the 1591 Second Book of ricercars, Verso based his ricercars on the models of his teacher Vinci.
Between 1590 and 1619 Verso composed at least 15 books of madrigals for 5 voices, and additional books for 3 and 4 voices and monodies. He died in Palermo
.
Il Verso is honoured today as the patron composer of the Palermo based Associazione per la musica antica Antonio Il Verso, and the early music group Studio di Musica Antica Antonio Il Verso, frequently directed by Gabriel Garrido
.
Il Verso was born at Piazza Armerina
Piazza Armerina
Piazza Armerina is an Italian comune in the province of Enna of the autonomous island region of Sicily.-History:...
, and began his musical studies under the guidance of Pietro Vinci
Pietro Vinci
Pietro Vinci was an Italian composer of late Renaissance music.Vinci was probably born in Nicosia, Sicily. He was active in Bergamo and then in various Sicilian cities as Maestro di cappella. He published several books of madrigals and church music from 1561 to 1584.-External links:...
. He was active 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...
in the last years of the sixteenth century is given in Venice, then the seat of the Venetian school, where he refined his studies in the madrigal
Madrigal (Trecento)
The Madrigal is an Italian musical form of the 14th century. The form flourished ca. 1300 – 1370 with a short revival near 1400. It was a composition for two voices, sometimes on a pastoral subject...
and polyphonic music. Back in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
settled in Palermo where he taught music at the Convent of San Domenico, on Via dei Bambinai. He was an exponent of mannerism
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
and set to music verses major poets such as Torquato Tasso
Torquato Tasso
Torquato Tasso was an Italian poet of the 16th century, best known for his poem La Gerusalemme liberata , in which he depicts a highly imaginative version of the combats between Christians and Muslims at the end of the First Crusade, during the siege of Jerusalem...
and Gabriello Chiabrera
Gabriello Chiabrera
Gabriello Chiabrera was an Italian poet, sometimes called the Italian Pindar.-Biography:He was of patrician descent, and was born at Savona, a little town in the domain of the Genoese republic, twenty-eight years after the...
in addition to the major poets of the period. He often utilised melodies of other composers, modifying their style but not distorting their compositional integrity. In the 1591 Second Book of ricercars, Verso based his ricercars on the models of his teacher Vinci.
Between 1590 and 1619 Verso composed at least 15 books of madrigals for 5 voices, and additional books for 3 and 4 voices and monodies. He died in Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
.
Il Verso is honoured today as the patron composer of the Palermo based Associazione per la musica antica Antonio Il Verso, and the early music group Studio di Musica Antica Antonio Il Verso, frequently directed by Gabriel Garrido
Gabriel Garrido
Gabriel Garrido is an Argentinian conductor specialising in the recovery of the baroque musical heritage of Latin America.Garrido was born in Buenos Aires, and at the age of 17 Argentine recorder quartet, Pro Arte, undertaking two tours in Europe...
.
Works
- 1590 First Book of Madrigals for 5 voices.
- 1591 Second Book of 11 Motets and 14 Ricercars in 3 voices by Pietro Vinci with 7 Ricercars by Antonio Il Verso. Probably intended for a trio of viols.
- 1611 Sacrum Cantionum for 2,3,4 voices with a dialogue for 6 voices.
- 1617 4° Libro di Madrigali a 3 voci di Antonio Il Verso, Palermo.
- 1619 Fifteenth Book of Madrigals for 5 voices. Including a parody of the Lamento d'Arianna a 5 by Claudio Monteverdi's Sixth Book of Madrigals.
Recordings
- Pietro VinciPietro VinciPietro Vinci was an Italian composer of late Renaissance music.Vinci was probably born in Nicosia, Sicily. He was active in Bergamo and then in various Sicilian cities as Maestro di cappella. He published several books of madrigals and church music from 1561 to 1584.-External links:...
and Antonio il Verso: Ricercars. Diego Cannizzaro, organ. Tactus 2008 - Lamento d'Arianna - Lasciatemi morire in the settings of Monteverdi, Antonio Il Verso, etc. Consort of Musicke dir. Anthony RooleyAnthony RooleyAnthony Rooley is a British lutenist. He founded in 1969 and directs the early music ensemble the Consort of Musicke, which continues to be one of the chief vehicles for his inspiration, among many other activities and interests...