Gherardello da Firenze

Gherardello da Firenze (* around 1320 to 1325 ; † 1362 or 1363 ); also Gheradellus or Ghirardellus de Florentia or Niccolò di Francesco (baptismal name) was an Italian composer and representative of the Ars nova .

Life

The first mention of Gherardello da Firenze, who was probably born in or near Florence, mentions him in 1343 as a cleric at the then main church of Florence, Santa Reparata . Two years later he was ordained a priest and was chaplain at this church from at least 1345-1351. Around 1351 he changed his name to the name "Ser Gherardello", which is usually used as a priest or notary, probably in connection with his entry into the order of the Vallombrosans . He later became prior to San Remigio in Florence. After 1362 further information is missing; a sonnet by Francesco di Simone Peruzzi, "per la morte di ser Gherardello, di musica maestro," which mourned his death is dated to around 1363.

plant

Gherardello belongs to the oldest generation of Florentine composers of the Ars nova. During his lifetime he was primarily known as a composer of liturgical works, of which only two mass movements have survived ( Gloria and Agnus Dei ). The Squarcialupi Codex is the main source of his secular works . Stylistically, there are close links to the more mature works of Giovanni da Cascia . Unlike the purely monophonic ballatas , the two-part madrigals have extensive melismatic passages.

Gherardello's brother Jacopo and his son Giovanni were also active composers, but their music has not survived.

literature

• Music in the past and present : Gherardellus, Florentia de, Digitale Bibliothek Volume 60, p. 27612 (cf.MGG Vol. 5, p. 55), Bärenreiter, 1986.

Web links

• Kurt von Fischer / Gianluca D'Agostino:  da Firenze, Gherardello. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
• Emanuela Salvatori:  Gherardello da Firenze. In: Mario Caravale (ed.): Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (DBI). Volume 53:  Gelati – Ghisalberti. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome 1999.