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Benedetto Marcello
1686 - 1739
Italy
Benedetto Marcello (02/08/1686 - 25/07/1739), an Italian composer, poet and diplomat, born in Venice. Benedetto Marcello was a member of a noble family and his compositions are frequently referred to as Patrizio Veneto. Although he was a music student of Antonio Lotti and Francesco Gasparini, his father wanted Benedetto to devote himself to law. Benedetto managed to combine a life in law and public service with one in music. In 1711 he was appointed member of the Council of Forty (in Venice's central government), and in 1730 he went to Pola as Provveditore (district governor). Due to his health having been "impaired by the climate" of Istria, Marcello retired after eight years to Brescia in the capacity of Camerlengo where he died of tuberculosis in 1739.
Benedetto Marcello was the brother of Alessandro Marcello, also a notable composer. On 20 May 1728 Benedetto Marcello married his singing student Rosanna Scalfi in a secret ceremony. However, as a nobleman his marriage to a commoner was unlawful and after Marcello's death the marriage was declared null by the state. Rosanna was unable to inherit his estate, and filed suit in 1742 against Benedetto's brother Alessandro Marcello, seeking financial support.
Cantato secondo l'usanza Venetiana
This Requiem SF. B660, called Requiem in the Venetian manner contains:
Campane Da Morto ('Death Bell') Sonata For Organ in G minor Introitus - Requiem aeternam - Kyrie I And II - Introitus: Christe - Kyrie III Sequentia - Dies irae - Quantus tremor - Tuba mirum - Mors stupebit - Liber scriptus - Rex tremendae - Recordare - Qui Mariam - Preces meae - Inter oves - Confutatis - Ora supplex - Lacrymosa - Domine Jesu Christe Sonata For Organ, In Loco Sanctus In G minor Motet: 'Dulcis Jesu Mater Cara', In Loco Angus Dei - Dulcis Jesu, Mater cara - In stellarum Regina - In isto mundo labili Communio - Lux aeterna - Requiem aeternam
This requiem is called "Cantato secondo l'usanza Venetiana" (Requiem 'in the Venetian Manner'). Requiem, SF. B660 "Cantato secondo l'usanza Venetiana". Marcello is one of many Venetian contemporaries of Vivaldi who has been all but obliterated by the latter's popularity in the 20th century. This requiem, dating from c.1728-33 and one of his last works, employs a multitude of stylistic and expressive forms ranging from the sumptuous contrapuntalism of its third "Kyrie" to the raging discords of the "Rex tremendae" to create a masterly and powerful whole.
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