ORGANISTS AT THE CHURCH OF SS. GIOVANNI E PAOLO

Abstract

established the entire succession of organists (the only paid musicians) at this Dominican church from the time of Cavalli's departure down to 1682. The organists were Carlo Fillago (I631-44), Massimiliano Neri (I644-6 and I657-64), Desiderio Marchion (I646-7), Remigio Bozza (I647-55), Donato Ondeo (1655-7), Carlo Grossi (I664-7), Giacomo Spada (1667-76), Antonio Zanettini (1676-9) and Paolo Spada (1679 to at least the end of 1682). The church records, now in the Archivio di Stato in Venice, lapse at the end of 1682 and revive at the start of I736. Salaries varied considerably with the times at SS. Giovanni e Paolo, and this seems to be the central reason why the names of the still-remembered and the long-forgotten are interspersed in the same listing. The leanest years at this church were those in the very middle of the century, from I646 to I657. Salaries reverted to what they had been at the end of the sixteenth century and the church seems not to have looked beyond the ranks of its own clergy when vacancies occurred. But when funds were more abundant, the church fathers were not unambitious when organists were being sought. Up to the time of Neri, SS. Giovanni e Paolo shared with the Basilica of San Marco the services of the city's most eminent organists; after Neri it provided a training station for several members of a still youthful generation whose memorable accomplishments lay entirely ahead of them. It may be recalled from Arnold's account that Cavalli's association with SS. Giovanni e Paolo was brought to an end by the plague of 1630. Cavalli shared with the general public a considerable reluctance to venture out of doors and, in consequence, neglected his duties at the church. It is not clear from surviving accounts whether he left the church on his own initiative or at its invitation.