Maria Margherita Grimani
Encyclopedia
It is not certain when she was born, but it was somewhere around the late 16 hundreds. She Married Giovanni Andrea Grimani, her maiden name was Vitalina.
Maria Margherita Grimani (fl. 1713 – 1718) was an Italian composer who, at some points in her life, was active in Vienna
. Very little else about her is known. Among her compositions was the first opera
by a woman to be performed at the Vienna court theater. She may have lived at the noble court
for periods between 1713 and 1718; however, she was not employed at the court as a musician. She may also have been one of a number of women composers at the Viennese court who were canonesses
, a type of Augustinian nun; others included Caterina Benedicta Grazianini
, Maria de Raschenau, and Camilla de Rossi
.
Grimani's known works include an opera, specifically a componimento dramatico or opus dramaticum, which may or may not have been staged, Pallade e Marte, dedicated in Bologna
on April 5, 1713 and first performed at the imperial theater on the nameday of Emperor Charles VI
on November 4, 1713 at the imperial theater. It was scored for two voices, oboe and string orchestra.
Her oratorio
s were also performed at the imperial theater: La visitazione di Elisabetta, performed in 1713 and again in 1718, and La decollazione di S Giovanni Battista, performed in 1715. The librettists are unknown. Both celebrate Charles's military success against the "infidels".
Grimani may have been related to the powerful Grimani
family, perhaps to Pietro Grimani
, who negotiated an alliance between Charles VI and Venice
(of which Pietro was later doge
) against the Turks
, in the same year that Maria's Pallade was performed at court. In addition, George Frideric Handel
's patron and librettist for Agrippina
, Vincenzo Grimani
, was viceroy
of Naples
at the time. Nevertheless, Maria's exact relationship to the Grimani family is unclear.
All of Grimani's works use small forces—two singers, a couple obbligato instruments, and a continuo group, including cello and theorbo
. Their form follows the standards of the time, as exemplified in Domenico Scarlatti's
works. This included a number of da capo aria
s with ritornelli
and recitative secco.
Maria Margherita Grimani (fl. 1713 – 1718) was an Italian composer who, at some points in her life, was active in 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...
. Very little else about her is known. Among her compositions was the first opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by a woman to be performed at the Vienna court theater. She may have lived at the noble court
Noble court
The court of a monarch, or at some periods an important nobleman, is a term for the extended household and all those who regularly attended on the ruler or central figure...
for periods between 1713 and 1718; however, she was not employed at the court as a musician. She may also have been one of a number of women composers at the Viennese court who were canonesses
Canonesses
A canoness is a member of a religious community of women living a simple life. Many communities observe the monastic rule of Saint Augustine. The name corresponds to the male equivalent, a canon. The origin and rules are common to both...
, a type of Augustinian nun; others included Caterina Benedicta Grazianini
Caterina Benedicta Grazianini
Caterina Benedicta Grazianini was an Italian composer of oratorios in Vienna. She was among the female composers of oratorios in Vienna who, according to Wellesz, were regular canonesses, rather than employed at the court. This group included Maria de Raschenau, Maria Margherita Grimani, and...
, Maria de Raschenau, and Camilla de Rossi
Camilla de Rossi
Camilla de Rossi was an Italian composer. Several women are known to have composed music in Northern Italy and Austria during the period 1670-1725. Of those women, though there is no remaining biographical information, Camilla de Rossi by far has the most surviving works. The only known...
.
Grimani's known works include an opera, specifically a componimento dramatico or opus dramaticum, which may or may not have been staged, Pallade e Marte, dedicated in 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,...
on April 5, 1713 and first performed at the imperial theater on the nameday of Emperor Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
on November 4, 1713 at the imperial theater. It was scored for two voices, oboe and string orchestra.
Her oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s were also performed at the imperial theater: La visitazione di Elisabetta, performed in 1713 and again in 1718, and La decollazione di S Giovanni Battista, performed in 1715. The librettists are unknown. Both celebrate Charles's military success against the "infidels".
Grimani may have been related to the powerful Grimani
Grimani
The Grimani family were a prominent Venetian patrician family, including three Doges of Venice. They were active in trade, politics and later the ownership of theatres and opera-houses...
family, perhaps to Pietro Grimani
Pietro Grimani
Pietro Grimani was a Venetian statesman who served as the 115th Doge of Venice from June 30, 1741 until his death. Grimani was a cultured and learned man, who wrote poetry and counted among his acquaintances Isaac Newton, who he had met while serving as a diplomat in England...
, who negotiated an alliance between Charles VI 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...
(of which Pietro was later doge
Doge
Doge is a dialectal Italian word that descends from the Latin dux , meaning "leader", especially in a military context. The wife of a Doge is styled a Dogaressa....
) against the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, in the same year that Maria's Pallade was performed at court. In addition, George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's patron and librettist for Agrippina
Agrippina (opera)
Agrippina is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel, from a libretto by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani. Composed for the Venice Carnevale season, the opera tells the story of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, as she plots the downfall of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the installation of...
, Vincenzo Grimani
Vincenzo Grimani
Vincenzo Grimani was an Italian cardinal, diplomat, and opera librettist.Grimani was born either in Venice or Mantua....
, was viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
of 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...
at the time. Nevertheless, Maria's exact relationship to the Grimani family is unclear.
All of Grimani's works use small forces—two singers, a couple obbligato instruments, and a continuo group, including cello 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...
. Their form follows the standards of the time, as exemplified in Domenico Scarlatti's
Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. He was the father of two other composers, Domenico Scarlatti and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti.-Life:Scarlatti was born in...
works. This included a number of da capo aria
Da capo aria
The da capo aria is a musical form, which was prevalent in the Baroque era. It is sung by a soloist with the accompaniment of instruments, often a small orchestra. The da capo aria is very common in the musical genres of opera and oratorio...
s with ritornelli
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...
and recitative secco.