October 10, 2016.An Italian composer with an unusually sounding name, Luzzasco Luzzaschi, was born in Ferrara around 1545; he lived there practically all his life.Luzzaschi is probably more famous as a teacher and a keyboard player, but he was also a fine composer.He studied music and the organ, playing at an early age and became an organist at the court of the Duke Alfonso II d’Este at 16; he was promoted to the first organist at 19.During the second half of the 16th century, the court was a glorious place, Duke Alfonso being a major patron of arts.Luzzaschi remained the first organist for the rest of his career, but his duties were broadened: he composed, took charge of the court orchestra and trained young musicians (Ippolito Fiorini was formally the maestro di cappella at the court, but his duties seem to have been more administrative).Sometime around 1570 Luzzaschi took over the Duke’s chamber music concerts.The concerts were organized as “musica secreta” (secret music) for a small and very exclusive audience; the repertory of these concerts was kept secret, but it’s assumed that some of it was written by Luzzaschi himself.During these concerts, Luzzaschi usually played on a keyboard (by that time he was considered one of the finest keyboard players around); some instrumental music was performed as well, but the main attraction was a group of highly skilled women singers, called Concerto delle Donne.An ensemble of female voices was highly unusual for that time.The initial Concerto consisted of several very talented but amateur singers, but eventually professional ones were hired as well.By the 1580s Concerto started performing in public and their fame spread all over Italy.Apparently, every singer in the ensemble was a virtuoso, and there was no group of equal quality in all of the country; Luzzaschi has to be given credit as their music director.Much of the music performed by the Concerto was written by Luzzaschi, but they also performed madrigals written for them by Carlo Gesualdo, Lodovico Agostini and many other noted composers.
Luzzaschi was also famed as a teacher and mentor.Frescobaldi studied with him; it’s said that Gesualdo, who went to Ferrara to marry the Duke's niece, Leonora d'Este, was mostly interested in meeting Luzzaschi (on that occasion, Gesualdo wrote several canzoni for the Concerto delle Donne). Many composers of the Roman School also studied with Luzzaschi.Things changed considerably after Duke Alfonso’s death in 1597.The Duke didn’t leave any heirs, whether legitimate or not.Alfonso’s cousin, Cesare d'Este, took over, but this succession wasn’t recognized by the Pope. A year later Ferrara was incorporated into the Papal States, so Cesare and the court moved to Modena.To run the government, the Pope appointed a legate, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini.Luzzaschi stayed in Ferrara and joined the Cardinal’s retinue; in 1601 he accompanied the Cardinal on a trip to Rome.On that occasion, he arranged for the printing of a book of his madrigals.
Luzzaschi died in Ferrara on September 10th of 1607.Here are two madrigals by Luzzaschi, T'amo mia vita and Cor mio, deh non languire.They are performed by Consort of Musicke under the direction of Anthony Rooley.
Luzzasco Luzzaschi, 2016
October 10, 2016. An Italian composer with an unusually sounding name, Luzzasco Luzzaschi, was born in Ferrara around 1545; he lived there practically all his life. Luzzaschi is probably more famous as a teacher and a keyboard player, but he was also a fine composer. He studied
music and the organ, playing at an early age and became an organist at the court of the Duke Alfonso II d’Este at 16; he was promoted to the first organist at 19. During the second half of the 16th century, the court was a glorious place, Duke Alfonso being a major patron of arts. Luzzaschi remained the first organist for the rest of his career, but his duties were broadened: he composed, took charge of the court orchestra and trained young musicians (Ippolito Fiorini was formally the maestro di cappella at the court, but his duties seem to have been more administrative). Sometime around 1570 Luzzaschi took over the Duke’s chamber music concerts. The concerts were organized as “musica secreta” (secret music) for a small and very exclusive audience; the repertory of these concerts was kept secret, but it’s assumed that some of it was written by Luzzaschi himself. During these concerts, Luzzaschi usually played on a keyboard (by that time he was considered one of the finest keyboard players around); some instrumental music was performed as well, but the main attraction was a group of highly skilled women singers, called Concerto delle Donne. An ensemble of female voices was highly unusual for that time. The initial Concerto consisted of several very talented but amateur singers, but eventually professional ones were hired as well. By the 1580s Concerto started performing in public and their fame spread all over Italy. Apparently, every singer in the ensemble was a virtuoso, and there was no group of equal quality in all of the country; Luzzaschi has to be given credit as their music director. Much of the music performed by the Concerto was written by Luzzaschi, but they also performed madrigals written for them by Carlo Gesualdo, Lodovico Agostini and many other noted composers.
Luzzaschi was also famed as a teacher and mentor. Frescobaldi studied with him; it’s said that Gesualdo, who went to Ferrara to marry the Duke's niece, Leonora d'Este, was mostly interested in meeting Luzzaschi (on that occasion, Gesualdo wrote several canzoni for the Concerto delle Donne). Many composers of the Roman School also studied with Luzzaschi. Things changed considerably after Duke Alfonso’s death in 1597. The Duke didn’t leave any heirs, whether legitimate or not. Alfonso’s cousin, Cesare d'Este, took over, but this succession wasn’t recognized by the Pope. A year later Ferrara was incorporated into the Papal States, so Cesare and the court moved to Modena. To run the government, the Pope appointed a legate, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. Luzzaschi stayed in Ferrara and joined the Cardinal’s retinue; in 1601 he accompanied the Cardinal on a trip to Rome. On that occasion, he arranged for the printing of a book of his madrigals.
Luzzaschi died in Ferrara on September 10th of 1607. Here are two madrigals by Luzzaschi, T'amo mia vita and Cor mio, deh non languire. They are performed by Consort of Musicke under the direction of Anthony Rooley.