Giovanni Felice Sances
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Felice Sances was an Italian singer and a Baroque
composer. He was renowned in Europe
during his time.
Sances studied at the Collegio Germanico in Rome
from 1609 to 1614. He appeared in the opera Amor pudico in Rome in 1614. His career then took him to Bologna
and Venice
. His first opera Ermiona was staged in Padua
in 1636, in which he also sang.
In 1636 he moved to Vienna
, where he was initially employed at the imperial court chapel as a tenor. In 1649, during the reign of Ferdinand III
he was appointed vice-Kapellmeister under Antonio Bertali
. He collaborated with Bertali to stage regular performances of Italian opera. He also composed seprolcri, sacred works and chamber music.
In 1669 he succeeded to the post of Imperial Kapellmeister
upon Bertali's death. From 1673, due to poor health, many of his duties were undertaken by his deputy Johann Heinrich Schmelzer
. He died in Vienna in 1679.
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...
composer. He was renowned in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during his time.
Sances studied at the Collegio Germanico in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1609 to 1614. He appeared in the opera Amor pudico in Rome in 1614. His career then took him to Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and 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...
. His first opera Ermiona was staged in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
in 1636, in which he also sang.
In 1636 he moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he was initially employed at the imperial court chapel as a tenor. In 1649, during the reign of Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
he was appointed vice-Kapellmeister under Antonio Bertali
Antonio Bertali
Antonio Bertali was an Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era.He was born in Verona and received early music education there from Stefano Bernardi. Probably from 1624, he was employed as court musician in Vienna by Emperor Ferdinand II. In 1649 Bertali succeeded Giovanni Valentini as...
. He collaborated with Bertali to stage regular performances of Italian opera. He also composed seprolcri, sacred works and chamber music.
In 1669 he succeeded to the post of Imperial Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
upon Bertali's death. From 1673, due to poor health, many of his duties were undertaken by his deputy Johann Heinrich Schmelzer
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer was an Austrian composer and violinist of the Baroque era. Almost nothing is known about his early years, but he seems to have arrived in Vienna during the 1630s, and remained composer and musician at the Habsburg court for the rest of his life...
. He died in Vienna in 1679.
Works
- Missa Sanctae Maria Magdalenae (for 6 wind instruments, 6 string instruments, 7 voices, and organ)
- Kyrie
- Gloria
- Credo
- Sanctus
- Agnus Dei
- Stabat Mater
- Lagrimosa beltà
- Missa Solicita
- Kyrie
- Gloria
- Credo
- Sanctus
- Benedictus
- Agnus Dei
- O Domine Jesu
- O Deus Meus
- Litany della BVM cum Sub tuum praesidium
- O Maria Dei genetrix
- Caro Mea
- Improperium expectavit cor meum
- Vulnerasti cor meum
- Domine quid multiplicati sunt
- Plagae tuae Domine
- Iste confessor
- Mi fai peccato (for 2 voices & basso continuo)
- Si fera s'uccida, (for 2 voices, strings & basso continuo)
- Misera, hor si ch'il pianto
- Chi sa amare e tracer mercede aspetti (canzonetta for 2 voices)
- Presso l'onde tranquille (for voice & basso continuo)
- Traditorella che credi (for voice & basso continuo)
- Perché Vechia gli dissi (for voice & basso continuo)
- Che sperasti ò mio cor (for voice & basso continuo)
- Cantata: Lagrimosa beltà (ciaccona) (for 2 voices)
- Cantata: Non sia chi mi riprende (1636)
- Opera: L’Ermiona (1636)
- Motetti a una, due, tre, e quattro voci (1638)
- Dialogo a due. Pastor e Ninfa (1649)
- Oratorio: Lachrime di San Pietro (1666)
- Stabat Mater (1670)
Recordings
- Duclis amor Iesu. Scherzi Musicali with Nicolas Achten, conductor. 2010, Ricercar RIC 292