Isabella Leonarda

Isabella Leonarda (born September 6, 1620 in Novara ; † February 25, 1704 ibid), whose real name was Isabella Calegari, was an Italian nun and composer .

Life

Isabella Leonard spent most of her life in the Collegio di Sant'Orsola monastery , where she entered in 1636. Her teacher was probably the music director of Novara Cathedral , Gasparo Casati (1610–1641). In the second half of the 17th century she published over 200 individual pieces in 20 of her own collections, primarily solo motets . The eleven trio sonatas and one solo sonata Op. 16 was published in Bologna in 1693 . They are the only ones left by Isabella Leonarda and one of the first instrumental compositions published by a woman.

Published works

Opus 1: lost
Opus 2: Motetti a tre voci (Milan 1665, lost)
Opus 3: 18 Sacri Concenti (Milan 1670)
Opus 4: 11 Messa (Novara 1674)
Opus 5: lost
Opus 6: 12 Motetti (Venice 1676)
Opus 7: 13 Motetti (Bologna 1677)
Opus 8: 11 Vespro a cappella (Bologna 1678)
Opus 9: lost
Opus 10: 12 Motetti a quattro voci (Milan 1684)
Opus 11: 12 Motetti (Bologna 1684)
Opus 12: 14 Motetti a voce sola (Novara 1686)
Opus 13: 12 Motetti (Bologna 1687)
Opus 14: 10 Motetti (Bologna 1687)
Opus 15: 11 Motetti a voce sola (Bologna 1690)
Opus 16: 12 Sonata a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th strumenti (Bologna 1693)
Opus 17: 12 Motetti (Bologna 1695)
Opus 18: 6 Mass (Bologna 1696)
Opus 19: 11 Salmi concertati (Bologna 1697)
Opus 20: 14 Motetti (Bologna 1700)

literature

Giulia Grilli: Leonardi (Leonarda), Isabella. In: Mario Caravale (ed.): Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (DBI). Volume 64: Latilla – Levi Montalcini. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome 2005.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Leonarda, Isabella
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Calegari, Isabella
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Italian nun and composer
DATE OF BIRTH	September 6, 1620
PLACE OF BIRTH	Novara
DATE OF DEATH	February 25, 1704
Place of death	Novara