Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

1548 in Valenciennes, France

Death

:

September, 1614 in Naples, Italy

Period

:

Renaissance

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Giovanni de Macque was a prominent composer of the late Renaissance period, born in the city of Hainaut, which is now part of Belgium, in 1550. He was the son of a musician, and his father was his first teacher. Giovanni showed an early aptitude for music, and by the age of 14, he was already a skilled keyboard player. In 1565, Giovanni moved to Italy, where he studied music with some of the most renowned composers of the time, including Andrea Gabrieli and Claudio Merulo. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented musician and composer, and in 1570, he was appointed as the organist at the church of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome. During his time in Rome, Giovanni composed a number of works for the church, including masses, motets, and hymns. He also wrote secular music, including madrigals and instrumental pieces. His music was highly regarded, and he was considered one of the leading composers of his time. In 1574, Giovanni left Rome and moved to Venice, where he became the organist at the church of San Marco. Venice was a thriving center of music and culture, and Giovanni quickly became involved in the city's vibrant musical scene. He composed music for the city's many churches and also wrote secular music for private patrons. One of Giovanni's most significant works is his collection of keyboard pieces, published in 1591 under the title "Il Primo Libro di Capricci." This collection includes 28 pieces for keyboard, which are notable for their technical complexity and virtuosity. The pieces are written in a variety of styles, including canzonas, ricercars, and toccatas, and they demonstrate Giovanni's mastery of keyboard technique. Another notable work by Giovanni is his collection of madrigals, published in 1595 under the title "Il Secondo Libro di Madrigali." This collection includes 20 madrigals, which are notable for their expressive harmonies and intricate polyphony. The madrigals are written for five voices and are set to texts by some of the leading poets of the time. Giovanni's music was highly influential, and he was considered one of the leading composers of his time. His keyboard music, in particular, had a significant impact on the development of keyboard technique in the Baroque period. His use of complex counterpoint and virtuosic keyboard writing was a precursor to the music of composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti. Despite his success as a composer, Giovanni's life was not without its challenges. He suffered from poor health throughout his life and was often in financial difficulties. He also faced competition from other composers, including his former teacher Claudio Merulo, who was also active in Venice. Giovanni died in Venice in 1614, at the age of 64. His legacy as a composer has endured, and his music continues to be performed and studied today. His contributions to the development of keyboard music and the madrigal form have earned him a place among the great composers of the Renaissance period.

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