Agostino Agazzari (1578-After 1640): The Theoretical Writings

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For Agostino Agazzari, a Sienese noble, to be praised as his merit requires one would need the eloquence of the most famous writers of this century, because in truth his skill in the field of music is as much as [that of] any other [person] described [in this volume]. First in Siena he showed while he was young that the city had nothing to envy elsewhere, [for there was] no performer, no composer more excellent that he, because in playing the organ he was most imaginative and delicate, and in [his] compositions harmonious and lively. Therefore he was rewarded with a place in the Accademia degli Intronati. He then visited Germany, where he became known at the court of the Emperor Matthias, who having discovered his great learning wished to keep him in his service. But desirous of liberty, he did not wish to bind himself with that chain of gold, and returned to Italy, carrying with him a musical instrument never before seen or heard called the pandora, which he played sweetly. He went to Rome, where he was not only maestro of the famous cappella of S Apollinare, but [was] also called one of the first to introduce theconcertostyle, which he learnt from brief contact with Father Viadana. With regard to his compositions, he left, in addition to numerous manuscripts, twenty-four to twenty-six works printed at various times and in various places, includingcanzonette, madrigals, motets, masses, psalms in which he showed great [understanding of] counterpoint and harmony. On returning to Siena he was made director of the cappella of the Cathedral, in which post he died recently to the universal sorrow of virtuous men.