Carlo Grossi

Carlo Grossi (* around 1634 in Vicenza ; † 14 May 1688 in Venice ) was an Italian composer , organist and singer (bass).

Life

Carlo Grossi spent part of his training years in Modena . Before 1657 he was Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of Reggio nell'Emilia . Between 1657 and 1662 Grossi had several jobs in Vicenza, so in 1656 he was maestro at the cathedral, conductor of the Accademia Olimpica . From 1664 to 1667 Grossi worked as organist and maestro di canto at the Ospedale dei Mendicanti in Venice. In these years, until 1666, he was also bass at St. Mark's Basilica . From 1676 until his death he was maestro di musica at the Ospedale dei Derelitti. He tried unsuccessfully to hold managerial positions at St. Mark's Basilica and at the capella musicale at San Petronio in Bologna . The Venetian monthly magazine Pallade Veneta described Carlo Grossi in an article from 1687 as an "Orfeo of our time". For a time Grossi was the honorary maestro di cappella of the Duke of Mantua, to whom he dedicated various sacred cantatas and motets , as well as a Christmas pastoral. There are indications that Carlo Grossi had contacts with musicians in Dresden, Innsbruck and Vienna, but no evidence whether he ever visited a place. Antonio Giannettini was one of his students .

Compared to that of his contemporaries, Grossi's style is characterized by a certain simplicity. He preferred homophony and uncomplicated melody at a time when polyphony and virtuoso passages were preferred. In his profane works there are comical elements that rather illustrate a satirical intention. In August 1677, an edition of the Parisian of Le Mercure Galant described his carnival opera “Nicomede in Bitinia” as “Très excellent”, mainly because of Grossi's fine taste and his compositional skills. The influence of Massimiliano Neri can be felt in many of his works , especially in the sonatas from Op. 1 and in the instrumental passages of his stage works.

Works (selection)

• Concerti eccleseastici Op. 1 (1657)
• Sonatas Op. 3
• Modern melody: a voce sola: con due, trè, quattro, e cinque stromenti, e partitura per l'organo Op. 8 (Bologna, Giacomo Monti, 1676)
• Currite pastores con 5 stromenti
• Cantata ebraica in dialogo (Modena, 1681)
• Il divertimento di Grandi, music da camera ò per sevicio di tavola… Op. 9 (Antwerp, 1681)

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by Carlo Grossi in the International Music Score Library Project

Literature and source

• "The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians, 1st Edition"