Giulio Cesare Monteverdi
Encyclopedia
Giulio Cesare Monteverdi (1573–1630/31) was an Italian composer and organist; he was the younger brother of Claudio Monteverdi
.
Giulio Cesare Monteverdi was born in Cremona
where he was baptised on 31 January 1573. In 1600 he held the position of organist of Mantua Cathedral
for a brief time. In August 1602 he served as a musician at the court of the Duke of Mantua
. On 2 June 1608, during the wedding celebrations at the Mantuan court, he composed the music for the fourth intermedio (words by Chiabrera
; music lost), as part of a performance of Guarini
's play L'Idropica. In 1609 Francesco Gonzaga (governor of Montferrat
at the time) appointed him maestro di cappella. In this position, he wrote his opera Il rapimento di Proserpina (libretto by Ercole Marigliani), on the occasion of the birthday of Francesco's wife. A performance was given at Casale Monferrato
in 1611 (music lost).
In 1612 he was dismissed, along with his brother and other artists, from the Gonzaga
court. Later on he became organist of the principal church at Castelleone
, near Crema. Yet again he was appointed maestro di cappella at the Salò cathedral (10 April 1620). He died around 1630/31 in Salò
, Lake Garda, possibly a victim to the plague.
Only a small amount of his music survives, which includes a collection of 25 motets under the title Affetti musici, ne quali si contengono motetti a 1–4 et 6 voci, per concertarli nel basso per l'organo (Venice, 1620). The influence of his brother is evident to some extent, as can be seen in a madrigal
for three voices and continuo, along with two other pieces, found in his brother's three-part Scherzi musicali (1607). Stylistically they resemble the rest of the volume's pieces, each with a three-part ritornello
; the writing for the voices suggests a concertato manner notwithstanding the melodious character. Nevertheless, his most notable contribution is his editing of the volume, as well as including a Dichiaratione, where Claudio's ideas are discussed in detail. This Dichiaratione is found in the preface to Claudio's fifth book of madrigals, written in response to Artusi's attacks on him.
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
.
Giulio Cesare Monteverdi was born in Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
where he was baptised on 31 January 1573. In 1600 he held the position of organist of Mantua Cathedral
Mantua Cathedral
The Duomo di Mantova is the main church in Mantua, Lombardy .A first structure existed probably in the area in the Palaeo-Christian era, which was followed by an edifice destroyed by a fire in 894...
for a brief time. In August 1602 he served as a musician at the court of the Duke of Mantua
Duchy of Mantua
The Duchy of Mantua was a duchy in Lombardy, Northern Italy, subject to the Holy Roman Empire.-History:After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Mantua was invaded by Byzantines, Longobards and Franks. In the 11th century it became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Toscana...
. On 2 June 1608, during the wedding celebrations at the Mantuan court, he composed the music for the fourth intermedio (words by 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...
; music lost), as part of a performance of Guarini
Giovanni Battista Guarini
Giovanni Battista Guarini was an Italian poet, dramatist, and diplomat.- Life :He was born in Ferrara, and spent his early life both in Padua and Ferrara, entering the service of Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, in 1567...
's play L'Idropica. In 1609 Francesco Gonzaga (governor of Montferrat
Montferrat
Montferrat is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises roughly the modern provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Montferrat is one of the most important wine districts of Italy...
at the time) appointed him maestro di cappella. In this position, he wrote his opera Il rapimento di Proserpina (libretto by Ercole Marigliani), on the occasion of the birthday of Francesco's wife. A performance was given at Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
in 1611 (music lost).
In 1612 he was dismissed, along with his brother and other artists, from the Gonzaga
House of Gonzaga
The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
court. Later on he became organist of the principal church at Castelleone
Castelleone
Castelleone is a comune in the Province of Cremona in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 50 km southeast of Milan and about 30 km northwest of Cremona...
, near Crema. Yet again he was appointed maestro di cappella at the Salò cathedral (10 April 1620). He died around 1630/31 in Salò
Salò
Salò is a town and commune in the Province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy on the banks of Lake Garda. The city was the capital of Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945, with the ISR often being called the "Republic of Salò" .-History:Salò was founded in the Roman period as Pagus...
, Lake Garda, possibly a victim to the plague.
Only a small amount of his music survives, which includes a collection of 25 motets under the title Affetti musici, ne quali si contengono motetti a 1–4 et 6 voci, per concertarli nel basso per l'organo (Venice, 1620). The influence of his brother is evident to some extent, as can be seen in a madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
for three voices and continuo, along with two other pieces, found in his brother's three-part Scherzi musicali (1607). Stylistically they resemble the rest of the volume's pieces, each with a three-part ritornello
Ritornello
A ritornello is a recurring passage in Baroque music for orchestra or chorus. The first or final movement of a solo concerto or aria may be in "ritornello form", in which the ritornello is the opening theme, always played by tutti, which returns in whole or in part and in different keys throughout...
; the writing for the voices suggests a concertato manner notwithstanding the melodious character. Nevertheless, his most notable contribution is his editing of the volume, as well as including a Dichiaratione, where Claudio's ideas are discussed in detail. This Dichiaratione is found in the preface to Claudio's fifth book of madrigals, written in response to Artusi's attacks on him.
Sources
- Palisca C.V. A History of Western Music New York, 1996
- Arnold D. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ed. Sadie S.Stanley SadieStanley Sadie CBE was a leading British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , which was published as the first edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.Sadie was educated at St Paul's School,...
, London 1995