Michelangelo Rossi
Encyclopedia
Michelangelo Rossi (ca. 1601/1602 – 1656) was an important Italian composer
, violin
ist and organist
of the Baroque
era.
Rossi was born in Genova
, where he studied with his uncle, Lelio Rossi (1601-1638), at the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Around the year 1624 he moved to Rome to enter the services of Cardinal Maurizio of Savoy. It was there that he met the madrigal
composer Sigismondo d'India
as well as the keyboard composer Girolamo Frescobaldi
, with whom he may have studied. All but one of his madrigals may date from this period, and they are similar to those of d'India. The circumstances of Rossi's dismissal from the Cardinal's service are unclear.
Rossi's first known opera dates from his second period of Roman service, while in the retinue of the rich Taddeo Barberini
. His opera
Erminia sul Giordano was premiered during the Carnivale
of 1633 at the theatre of the Palazzo Barberini (Rossi himself apparently sang on stage as the sun-god Apollo), and appeared in print four years later. A second opera, Andromeda (1638, partly lost) was first performed in Ferrara
in 1638. By 1649, Rossi had returned to Rome and was residing in the palace of Camilo Pamphili (a relative of the Pope), perhaps in semi-retirement. He died in July of 1656 died in Rome
and may have been buried in the church of Saint Andrea delle Fratte in Minimi
.
Although Rossi was famed as an outstanding violinist in his lifetime, today his reputation rests chiefly on his keyboard
music. In particular his 10 Toccatas are highly regarded (amongst these, Toccata VII with its wildly chromatic ending is best known). They are stylistically close to the music of Girolamo Frescobaldi
, Carlo Gesualdo
and Johann Jakob Froberger
, while being individual, and they enjoy a reputation as a significant milestone in the keyboard literature.
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...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist 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...
of the Baroque
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...
era.
Rossi was born in Genova
Génova
Génova may refer to:* Spanish spelling of the city of Genoa, Italy* Génova, Quindío, a municipality in the department of Quindío, Colombia* Génova, Quetzaltenango, a municipality in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala...
, where he studied with his uncle, Lelio Rossi (1601-1638), at the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Around the year 1624 he moved to Rome to enter the services of Cardinal Maurizio of Savoy. It was there that he met the 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....
composer Sigismondo d'India
Sigismondo d'India
Sigismondo d'India was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He was one of the most accomplished contemporaries of Monteverdi, and wrote music in many of the same forms as the more famous composer.-Life:D'India was probably born in Palermo, Sicily in 1582, though...
as well as the keyboard composer 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...
, with whom he may have studied. All but one of his madrigals may date from this period, and they are similar to those of d'India. The circumstances of Rossi's dismissal from the Cardinal's service are unclear.
Rossi's first known opera dates from his second period of Roman service, while in the retinue of the rich Taddeo Barberini
Taddeo Barberini
Taddeo Barberini was an Italian nobleman of the House of Barberini who became Prince of Palestrina and Gonfalonier of the Church; commander of the Papal Army. He was a nephew of Pope Urban VIII and brother of Cardinals Francesco Barberini and Antonio Barberini...
. His 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...
Erminia sul Giordano was premiered during the Carnivale
Carnivale
Carnivale may refer to:*Carnivàle, an American television series on HBO*Carnival, a festival season*Empress of Britain , a steamship renamed the Carnivale...
of 1633 at the theatre of the Palazzo Barberini (Rossi himself apparently sang on stage as the sun-god Apollo), and appeared in print four years later. A second opera, Andromeda (1638, partly lost) was first performed in Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
in 1638. By 1649, Rossi had returned to Rome and was residing in the palace of Camilo Pamphili (a relative of the Pope), perhaps in semi-retirement. He died in July of 1656 died 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...
and may have been buried in the church of Saint Andrea delle Fratte in Minimi
Minim (religious order)
The Minims are members of a Roman Catholic religious order of friars founded by Saint Francis of Paola in fifteenth-century Italy...
.
Although Rossi was famed as an outstanding violinist in his lifetime, today his reputation rests chiefly on his keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
music. In particular his 10 Toccatas are highly regarded (amongst these, Toccata VII with its wildly chromatic ending is best known). They are stylistically close to the music of 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...
, 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....
and Johann Jakob Froberger
Johann Jakob Froberger
Johann Jakob Froberger was a German Baroque composer, keyboard virtuoso, and organist. He was among the most famous composers of the era and influenced practically every major composer in Europe by developing the genre of keyboard suite and contributing greatly to the exchange of musical...
, while being individual, and they enjoy a reputation as a significant milestone in the keyboard literature.