Paolo Lorenzani
Encyclopedia
Paolo Francesco Lorenzani (5 January 1640 – 28 October 1713) was an Italian
composer of the Baroque Era
. While living in France
, he helped promote appreciation for the Italian style of music.
Lorenzani was born in Rome
and was trained by Orazio Benevoli
, maestro di cappella for the Cappella Giulia
in The Vatican
.
He served in Rome
as maestro di cappella at the Church of the Gesu
and Collegio Romano, the first Jesuit university, which later expanded to become Pontifical Gregorian University
. He later served at the cathedral of Messina in Sicily
.
In 1678, Lorenzani traveled to Paris
, hoping to find fortune. His motet
s were performed for Louis XIV, who recognized his talent and appointed him music master to the queen
. Under orders of the king, Lorenzani traveled back to Italy and recruited singers for the monarch's chapel. Despite assistance from Madame de Montespan, he never achieved sufficient popularity to overcome great antagonism from Jean-Baptiste Lully
, a great force in French music at the time. Underhanded efforts by Lully probably kept Lorenzani from receiving several available posts at the Chapelle royale in 1683. This setback and the death of the queen marked the beginning of Lorenzani's break with Versailles
. Due to his ultramontane
beliefs, he was ordered to leave Versailles, thanks to protests made by Lully.
Despite all of that, an Italian Serenade in 1684 proved to be a success, thanks to help from Michel-Richard Delalande. In Paris, he earned a post as maître de musique at a Theatines
monastery. Here, he conducted his own music in the presence of Italophil aristocrats. In 1688, his opera Orontée, composed in the French style, premiered at the Académie royale in Chantilly
. In 1693 Lorenzani published his Grand Motets, which were dedicated to the king.
He returned to Rome in 1695 and served as maestro di cappella for the Cappella Giulia.
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 of the Baroque Era
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...
. While living in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he helped promote appreciation for the Italian style of music.
Lorenzani was born 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 was trained by Orazio Benevoli
Orazio Benevoli
Orazio Benevoli or Benevolo , was an Italian composer of large scaled polychoral sacred choral works; one work featured 48 vocal and instrumental lines....
, maestro di cappella for the Cappella Giulia
Cappella Giulia
The choir "Cappella Giulia," officially named the Reverend Musical Chapel "Julia" of the Sacrosanct Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, is the choir of St...
in The Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
.
He served 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...
as maestro di cappella at the Church of the Gesu
Church of the Gesu
The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named , its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture ,. The church served as model for innumerable Jesuit...
and Collegio Romano, the first Jesuit university, which later expanded to become Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
. He later served at the cathedral of Messina in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
In 1678, Lorenzani traveled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, hoping to find fortune. His motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
s were performed for Louis XIV, who recognized his talent and appointed him music master to the queen
Maria Theresa of Spain
Maria Theresa of Austria was the daughter of Philip IV, King of Spain and Elizabeth of France. Maria Theresa was Queen of France as wife of King Louis XIV and mother of the Grand Dauphin, an ancestor of the last four Bourbon kings of France.-Early life:Born as Infanta María Teresa of Spain at the...
. Under orders of the king, Lorenzani traveled back to Italy and recruited singers for the monarch's chapel. Despite assistance from Madame de Montespan, he never achieved sufficient popularity to overcome great antagonism from Jean-Baptiste Lully
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Jean-Baptiste de Lully was an Italian-born French composer who spent most of his life working in the court of Louis XIV of France. He is considered the chief master of the French Baroque style. Lully disavowed any Italian influence in French music of the period. He became a French subject in...
, a great force in French music at the time. Underhanded efforts by Lully probably kept Lorenzani from receiving several available posts at the Chapelle royale in 1683. This setback and the death of the queen marked the beginning of Lorenzani's break with Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
. Due to his ultramontane
Ultramontanism
Ultramontanism is a religious philosophy within the Roman Catholic community that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope...
beliefs, he was ordered to leave Versailles, thanks to protests made by Lully.
Despite all of that, an Italian Serenade in 1684 proved to be a success, thanks to help from Michel-Richard Delalande. In Paris, he earned a post as maître de musique at a Theatines
Theatines
The Theatines or the Congregation of Clerks Regular of the Divine Providence are a male religious order of the Catholic Church, with the post-nominal initials "C.R."-Foundation:...
monastery. Here, he conducted his own music in the presence of Italophil aristocrats. In 1688, his opera Orontée, composed in the French style, premiered at the Académie royale in Chantilly
Chantilly, Oise
Chantilly is a small city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune in the department of Oise.It is in the metropolitan area of Paris 38.4 km...
. In 1693 Lorenzani published his Grand Motets, which were dedicated to the king.
He returned to Rome in 1695 and served as maestro di cappella for the Cappella Giulia.