Lelio Colista
Encyclopedia
Lelio Colista was an Italian Baroque composer and lutenist.
Funded by his father, who held an important position in the Vatican library, Colista early received an excellent musical education, probably at the Seminario Romano. He masterly managed several instruments, especially the lute
and theorbo
. Already at the age of 30, he held a lucrative post of custode delle pittore at the papal chapel. In 1664, supported by the Cardinal Flavio Chigi
, he performed at Versailles at the court of the Louis XIV
. During the last 20 years of his life, he had been a demanded composer and teacher in Rome.
He wrote mostly instrumental music, and, though no pieces were published during his lifetime, his influence on the musicians residing in Rome was significant. His music was written in a simpler and less demanding style than that of his contemporaries. Arcangelo Corelli
mentioned him in the preface of his Opus 1 as one of the più professori musici di Roma. Henry Purcell
valued in 1694 his counterpoint
skills.
Colista influenced Corelli's and Purcell's trio sonatas through his early da chiesa sonatas for two violins and basso continuo, which the composer described as symphonies. His music was generally admired both by the audience and the patrons. He was described as vere Romanae urbis Orpheus (truly the Orpheus of the city of Rome) by Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher
. His works are usually referred to by the thematic catalogue by Antonella D'Ovidio, denoted WK.
Funded by his father, who held an important position in the Vatican library, Colista early received an excellent musical education, probably at the Seminario Romano. He masterly managed several instruments, especially the lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
and theorbo
Theorbo
A theorbo is a plucked string instrument. As a name, theorbo signifies a number of long-necked lutes with second pegboxes, such as the liuto attiorbato, the French théorbe des pièces, the English theorbo, the archlute, the German baroque lute, the angélique or angelica. The etymology of the name...
. Already at the age of 30, he held a lucrative post of custode delle pittore at the papal chapel. In 1664, supported by the Cardinal Flavio Chigi
Flavio Chigi (1631-1693)
thumb|250px|Cardinal Flavio ChigiFlavio Chigi was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and Duke of Ariccia. He was Cardinal-Nephew to Pope Alexander VII and became a powerful political force inside the Roman Catholic Church during the latter half of the 17th century.-Early life:Flavio Chigi was born 10...
, he performed at Versailles at the court of the Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. During the last 20 years of his life, he had been a demanded composer and teacher in Rome.
He wrote mostly instrumental music, and, though no pieces were published during his lifetime, his influence on the musicians residing in Rome was significant. His music was written in a simpler and less demanding style than that of his contemporaries. Arcangelo Corelli
Arcangelo Corelli
Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian violinist and composer of Baroque music.-Biography:Corelli was born at Fusignano, in the current-day province of Ravenna, although at the time it was in the province of Ferrara. Little is known about his early life...
mentioned him in the preface of his Opus 1 as one of the più professori musici di Roma. Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
valued in 1694 his counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
skills.
Colista influenced Corelli's and Purcell's trio sonatas through his early da chiesa sonatas for two violins and basso continuo, which the composer described as symphonies. His music was generally admired both by the audience and the patrons. He was described as vere Romanae urbis Orpheus (truly the Orpheus of the city of Rome) by Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology, and medicine...
. His works are usually referred to by the thematic catalogue by Antonella D'Ovidio, denoted WK.