Luzzasco Luzzaschi

About Luzzasco Luzzaschi

Luzzaschi died in the city where he was born, Ferrara. It is very likely that he studied with Rore. He was able to serve in the Este court as a singer, first organist, and as the Duke's private composer. Luzzaschi also became the organist for the Cathedral in Ferara as well as for the Accademia della Morte. It is important to note that he was the single most important musician from Ferrara in the sixteenth century. Praised for his forte at the organ, Luzzaschi had numerous students including Frescobaldi. The majority of compositions were secular vocal pieces, specifically madrigals, but he also composed a mass and other sacred vocal pieces as well as organ music including canzona, toccatas, and ricercares. The volume of madrigals arranged by Luzzaschi were set for one to three sopranos with a keyboard accompaniment. His madrigals were elaborate and technically demanding pieces to be performed for the Duke's private concerts by the "singing ladies" of Ferrara. This book of madrigals is extant even though these pieces were long kept a secret. Other surviving works include a book of motets and some keyboard compositions. ~ Keith Johnson

HOMETOWN
Ferrara, Italy
BORN
1545
GENRE
Classical

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