Giovanni Battista Riccio
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Battista Riccio (Giambattista Riccio) (late 16th centuryafter 1621) was a musician and composer
of the early Baroque
era, resident in Venice
, most notable for his development of instrumental forms, particularly utilizing the recorder
.
Records show that he was appointed as organist
at the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice
, in 1609, when he was the preferred choice over Gabriel Sponga (a nephew of Francesco Usper
). He was probably also a violinist.
Riccio is known to have published three books of vocal and instrumental music in Venice. These books include his instrumental works for recorderunusual for Venetian music at the time, although Giovanni Picchi
also wrote for the instrument.
The initial publication date of Riccio's Primo Libro is unknown, but the reprint dating from 1612 survives. The majority of the first book is allotted to vocal works, but in the revised edition two new instrumental canzona
s are appended. One is his first known piece for recordera canzone for two flautini.
His Secondo Libro, also published in Venice, appeared in 1614.
His Terzo libro delle Divine Lodi published in 1620 and 1621 is the mostly widely known today. It comprises thirty-six vocal works and a further twelve instrumental pieces mostly described as canzonas. Most feature two main instruments (such as recorder
, cornett
o, violin
, trombone
or sometimes contemporary 'bassoon
' or dulcian
). One canzona entitled La Grimantea con il tremolo is one of the first pieces to make use of the tremolo
technique for the 'Flautin e Fagoto' (recorder and bassoon).
Dedications in his works suggest Riccio knew other composers such as Giovanni Picchi, Alessandro Grandi
, Giovanni Battista Grillo
and Giacomo Finetti. Some of his canzonas quote from larger-scale works by Giovanni Gabrieli
.
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...
of the early Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
era, resident 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...
, most notable for his development of instrumental forms, particularly utilizing the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
.
Life and music
No details are available regarding the early part of his life, but he must have been born in the late sixteenth century.Records show that he was appointed as 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...
at the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice
San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice
The church of San Giovanni Evangelista is a 15th century religious building in the San Polo sestiere of the Italian city of Venice. It stands across a courtyard from the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista.-History:...
, in 1609, when he was the preferred choice over Gabriel Sponga (a nephew of Francesco Usper
Francesco Usper
Francesco Usper , Italian composer and organist born in Rovigno, Istria . He settled in Venice before 1586 and is associated with the contrafraternity St. Giovanni Evangelista, Venice. He spent most of his life there, serving as organist, chaplain, manager of the adjoining church Francesco Usper...
). He was probably also a violinist.
Riccio is known to have published three books of vocal and instrumental music in Venice. These books include his instrumental works for recorderunusual for Venetian music at the time, although Giovanni Picchi
Giovanni Picchi
Giovanni Picchi was an Italian composer, organist, lutenist, and harpsichordist of the early Baroque era. He was a late follower of the Venetian School, and was influential in the development and differentiation of instrumental forms which were just beginning to appear, such as the sonata and the...
also wrote for the instrument.
The initial publication date of Riccio's Primo Libro is unknown, but the reprint dating from 1612 survives. The majority of the first book is allotted to vocal works, but in the revised edition two new instrumental canzona
Canzona
In the 16th century an instrumental chanson; later, a piece for ensemble in several sections or tempos...
s are appended. One is his first known piece for recordera canzone for two flautini.
His Secondo Libro, also published in Venice, appeared in 1614.
His Terzo libro delle Divine Lodi published in 1620 and 1621 is the mostly widely known today. It comprises thirty-six vocal works and a further twelve instrumental pieces mostly described as canzonas. Most feature two main instruments (such as recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
, cornett
Cornett
The cornett, cornetto or zink is an early wind instrument, dating from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was used in what are now called alta capellas or wind ensembles. It is not to be confused with the trumpet-like instrument cornet.-Construction:There are three basic types of...
o, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
or sometimes contemporary 'bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
' or dulcian
Dulcian
The dulcian is a Renaissance bass woodwind instrument, with a double reed and a folded conical bore. Equivalent terms include "curtal" in English, "dulzian" in German, "bajón" in Spanish, "douçaine"' in French, "dulciaan" in Dutch, and "dulciana" in Italian....
). One canzona entitled La Grimantea con il tremolo is one of the first pieces to make use of the tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
technique for the 'Flautin e Fagoto' (recorder and bassoon).
Dedications in his works suggest Riccio knew other composers such as Giovanni Picchi, Alessandro Grandi
Alessandro Grandi
Alessandro Grandi was a northern Italian composer of the early Baroque era, writing in the new concertato style...
, Giovanni Battista Grillo
Giovanni Battista Grillo
Giovanni Battista Grillo was an Italian composer and organist.Little is known about Grillo until he was elected organist to the Venetian confraternity 'Scuola Grande di S Rocco' on 28 August 1612. In addition he was appointed first organist of San Marco on 30 December 1619...
and Giacomo Finetti. Some of his canzonas quote from larger-scale works by Giovanni Gabrieli
Giovanni Gabrieli
Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist. He was one of the most influential musicians of his time, and represents the culmination of the style of the Venetian School, at the time of the shift from Renaissance to Baroque idioms.-Biography:Gabrieli was born in Venice...
.
Works
- Primo libro delle Divine Lodi (Venice, Revised edition 1612)
- Il secondo libro delle Divine Lodi (Venice, 1614)
- Il terzo libro delle Divine Lodi (Venice, 1620; 1621)
- He may also be the composer of one canzona in Valerio Bona's Otto ordini di litanie (Venice, 1619)