GIOVANNI GABRIELI (1557-1612)
Giovanni Gabrieli, whose uncle was the composer and organist Andrea Gabrieli (1510-86),
was born in Venice, and died there 56 years later. Not a lot is known of his early
life, though he was probably taught by his uncle Andrea whose example he followed
by going to Munich to work in the service of Duke Albrecht V. His connection with
Northern Europe doubtless accounts for his rediscovery by German scholars in the
early part of the 19th century. At any rate Gabrieli remained in Munich for several
years, but by 1584 he had gone back to Venice, for in that year he became temporary
organist at St Mark's. A year later, his appointment was made permanent and he held
the post until his death.
His prolific output includes music both secular and religious, choral and orchestral,
with works composed for formal occasions and even the theatre: he wrote music for
the pastoral plays given several times annually in the Doge's Palace. His 'canzonas'
(literally songs, but the word was used to describe short instrumental pieces) and
'sonatas' were performed by homogeneous groups of instruments -- strings or brass
-- and in writing them Gabrieli took advantage of the versatile and skilled musicians
available at St Mark's and its dramatic acoustics, creating short works which have
all the resonance and solemnity of Venetian Renaissance ceremonial. The Sonata pian
e forte, featuring two opposing groups of brass players, is a famous example.
Programme Notes by Paul Vaughan ©
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