Bassano, Giovanni

Giovanni Bassano belonged to the Venetian music school . He worked at a turning point in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque . He wrote an essay on the theory of music with a detailed exposition of the musical art technique of his time, which was of great importance in the performance of ancient music in the following centuries.

Information about the origin and youth of the musician has not been preserved. Perhaps he belonged to the famous surname of the Venetian musicians Bassano . In 1576, Giovanni was first mentioned as an instrumental musician of the Cathedral of St. Mark, later he became famous as one of the best virtuosos of Venice.

In 1585, his manual for instrumentalists Ricercate, passagi et cadentie , was published , the most valuable of which is a description of the technique of ornamentation . This manual is still actively used by authentic musicians . In the same year he began to teach at the St. Brand music workshop. In 1601, he, not refusing to teach students, led the cathedral musical ensemble, replacing the deceased Girolamo Dalla Casa . This post was held by Bassano until his death.

Bassano, as a musician, was greatly influenced by the work of composer Giovanni Gabrieli , who wrote the famous parts of the game on the cornet , calculated specifically on the performance of Bassano. In addition to the leadership of the ensemble of the Cathedral of St. Mark, Bassano also directed other Venetian orchestras and ensembles that performed in various Venetian churches during the holidays.

As a composer, he is known for motets and other sacred music (concerts by Concerti ecclesiastici ). He also wrote madrigals , canzonets and plays in various instrumental genres. The Canzonetta J. Bassano spread also outside Italy. So in 1597, translated into English, they were released in London by Thomas Morley . Some instrumental works by J. Bassano perfectly represent the mastery of counterpoint, which does not appear in his more ceremonial, homophonic compositions.