Giovanni Maria Trabaci
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Maria Trabaci was an Italian
composer
and organist
. He was a prolific composer, with some 300 surviving works preserved in more than 10 prints, and was especially important for his keyboard music.
Trabaci was born in Monte Pelusio (now Irsina
, near Matera). Nothing is known about his early life. On 1 December 1594 he was appointed tenor at Santissima Annunziata
in Naples
, but already in 1597 he must have been known as an organist and organ expert, because he was invited that year to test the organ of Oratorio dei Filippini. He served as organist there for a while, and then became, in 1601, organist to the Spanish viceroys at the Chapel Royal of Naples
. The second organist was Ascanio Mayone
, and Giovanni de Macque
was maestro di cappella. Trabaci succeeded Macque in 1614 after the latter's death, and held the post for the rest of his life. Between 1625 and 1630 he also worked at Oratorio dei Filippini.
Trabaci was most noted for his keyboard works, which include ricercares, canzona
s and toccata
s collected in two prints. His bold harmonic language, with unexpected modulations to distant keys, and experiments with structure in these works influenced Girolamo Frescobaldi
. He also wrote numerous sacred vocal works, but these are, in general, more conservative. The 1602 book of motets, Motectorum, features advanced harmonic writing and may have influenced Carlo Gesualdo
's 1603 Sacrae cantiones.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
composer
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...
and 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...
. He was a prolific composer, with some 300 surviving works preserved in more than 10 prints, and was especially important for his keyboard music.
Trabaci was born in Monte Pelusio (now Irsina
Irsina
Irsina is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.The economy is mostly based on agriculture, with the production of cereals and wine.- The Village of Irsina and the Surrounding Countryside :...
, near Matera). Nothing is known about his early life. On 1 December 1594 he was appointed tenor at Santissima Annunziata
Santissima Annunziata
The Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata Maggiore is a church in Naples in southern Italy.The Annunziatas origins goes back to 1320 and has always been, in one form or another, an orphanage. Remade a first time in the early 16th century, by the mid 17th century, it was a full-fledged home, church,...
in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, but already in 1597 he must have been known as an organist and organ expert, because he was invited that year to test the organ of Oratorio dei Filippini. He served as organist there for a while, and then became, in 1601, organist to the Spanish viceroys at the Chapel Royal of Naples
Chapel Royal of Naples
The Chapel Royal of Naples was the sacred musical establishment of the Spanish court in Naples which began with the Catalan-Aragonese Court of Naples, and continued to the Habsburgs the Bourbons, and Joseph Napoleon....
. The second organist was Ascanio Mayone
Ascanio Mayone
Ascanio Mayone was an Neapolitan composer and harpist. He trained as a pupil of Giovanni de Macque in Naples, and worked at Santissima Annunziata there as organist from 1593 and maestro di cappella from 1621; he was also organist at the royal chapel from 1602...
, and Giovanni de Macque
Giovanni de Macque
Giovanni de Macque was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque, who spent almost his entire life in Italy...
was maestro di cappella. Trabaci succeeded Macque in 1614 after the latter's death, and held the post for the rest of his life. Between 1625 and 1630 he also worked at Oratorio dei Filippini.
Trabaci was most noted for his keyboard works, which include ricercares, canzona
Canzona
In the 16th century an instrumental chanson; later, a piece for ensemble in several sections or tempos...
s and toccata
Toccata
Toccata is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard or plucked string instrument featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections, with or without imitative or fugal interludes, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer's fingers...
s collected in two prints. His bold harmonic language, with unexpected modulations to distant keys, and experiments with structure in these works influenced Girolamo Frescobaldi
Girolamo Frescobaldi
Girolamo Frescobaldi was a musician from Ferrara, one of the most important composers of keyboard music in the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. A child prodigy, Frescobaldi studied under Luzzasco Luzzaschi in Ferrara, but was influenced by a large number of composers, including Ascanio...
. He also wrote numerous sacred vocal works, but these are, in general, more conservative. The 1602 book of motets, Motectorum, features advanced harmonic writing and may have influenced Carlo Gesualdo
Carlo Gesualdo
Carlo Gesualdo, known as Gesualdo di Venosa or Gesualdo da Venosa , Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, was an Italian nobleman, lutenist, composer, and murderer....
's 1603 Sacrae cantiones.