Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1643

Death

:

1729

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Pietro Marchitelli was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, born in Castrovillari, Calabria, Italy in 1643. He was the son of a musician and grew up in a musical family. His father, Francesco Marchitelli, was a violinist and composer, and his brother, Giuseppe Marchitelli, was also a composer. Marchitelli began his musical education at a young age, studying with his father and brother. He showed great talent and was soon recognized as a promising young musician. He continued his studies in Naples, where he studied with the famous composer Francesco Provenzale. In 1670, Marchitelli was appointed as the maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of San Nicola in Bari, a position he held for the rest of his life. He also served as the maestro di cappella at the Basilica of San Nicola in Tolentino from 1680 to 1683. Marchitelli was a prolific composer, and his works include operas, oratorios, cantatas, and instrumental music. His most famous work is the oratorio "La Passione di Cristo," which was first performed in Bari in 1685. The oratorio tells the story of the Passion of Christ, and features arias, recitatives, and choruses. Marchitelli's operas were also well-regarded in his time, and he composed several works for the Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples. His opera "La Finta Pazza" was first performed in 1679, and was a great success. The opera tells the story of a woman who pretends to be insane in order to avoid an unwanted marriage. Marchitelli's instrumental music includes sonatas for violin and continuo, as well as chamber music for various combinations of instruments. His sonatas are notable for their virtuosic violin parts and their expressive melodies. Marchitelli's music was highly regarded in his time, and he was considered one of the leading composers of the Baroque era in southern Italy. His works were performed throughout Italy, and he was praised for his skillful use of harmony and counterpoint. Despite his success as a composer, Marchitelli remained humble and dedicated to his work as a church musician. He was known for his piety and his devotion to the Catholic faith, and his music reflects his deep religious convictions. Marchitelli died in Bari in 1729, at the age of 86. His legacy as a composer has endured, and his music continues to be performed and appreciated by musicians and audiences around the world.

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