Pietro Gnocchi

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Pietro Gnocchi (born February 27, 1689 in Alfianello near Brescia , † December 9, 1775 ibid) was an Italian composer , geographer and historian of the Baroque and Early Classical periods.

Life

Pietro Gnocchi, who came from a wealthy family, probably received his musical training in Venice. After the death of a younger brother, he made extensive trips through Europe, which took him to Vienna, Hungary, Bohemia, Saxony and Munich. In 1723 he became Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of Brescia and in 1733 he applied in vain for the position of organist, which he did not receive until April 1766. From 1745 to 1750 he was a music teacher in the orphanage “Orfanelle della Pietà”, and at the age of 76 he reapplied for a position as conductor and organist at the Cathedral of Brescia, which he held until his death at the age of 86. Prince Faustino Lechi of Brescia traveled to Bologna as a young man to study music with Padre Martini , who expressed his surprise that the prince had undertaken such a trip, since Brescia in the person of Gnocchi “un celebre Professore di Musica “Owned. Prince Lechi took Martini's advice and became Gnocchi's pupil, friend and patron.

In 1802, Don C. Cristoni, a friend of the musician, commissioned a terracotta bust of gnocchi, while Abbot Stefano Antonio Morcelli had three inscription tablets made in Latin in his memory. The bust and two of the inscriptions, which were kept in the cathedral's chapter house for a long time, are now lost.

Works (selection)

music

His musical work mainly includes sacred music, but also secular vocal music and some instrumental works. Only one opus comprising 12 pieces, the Salmi Brevi , was printed. Stylistically, his music has Venetian traits. He used the double choir in a homophonic texture, a style that came from the Venetian school of the early Baroque. Gnocchi's masses, written for eight-part double choir, are considered his best works. His extensive work, preserved in manuscripts, contains most of the must in the Cathedral of Brescia and in the Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie , also in Brescia:

  • 60 masses for 4 to 8 voices, some with instrumental accompaniment
  • 6 requies for 2 to 4 voices
  • 6 Vespers collections for a full church year '
  • 12 four-part Magnificat
  • 6 miserere for 4 to 8 voices
  • Motets, hymns and other liturgical music.

In addition to sacred music, some instrumental works are known.

As a writer

In addition to his work as a musician, Gnocchi was the author of a 25-volume story about ancient Greek colonies and wrote a treatise on the plaques in the Brescia region. Gnocchi dedicated both works to Prince Faustino Lechi, his friend and patron.

Web links

literature

  • Claudio Toscani: Pietro Gnocchi E La Musica A Brescia Nel Settlecento Cisalpino, 2009 ISBN 8-8323-6-21-20

source

  1. ↑ a b c Mariangela Donà:  Gnocchi, Pietro. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
personal data
SURNAME Gnocchi, Pietro
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian composer in the Neapolitan Baroque style
DATE OF BIRTH February 27, 1689
PLACE OF BIRTH Alfianello near Brescia
DATE OF DEATH December 9, 1775
Place of death Brescia