Antonio Il Verso (1565 – August 23, 1621) was an Italian composer.
Il Verso was born at Piazza Armerina, and began his musical studies under the guidance of Pietro Vinci. He was active in Venice in the last years of the sixteenth century is given in Venice, then the seat of the Venetian school, where he refined his studies in the madrigal and polyphonic music. Back in Sicily settled in Palermo where he taught music at the Convent of San Domenico, on Via dei Bambinai. He was an exponent of mannerism and set to music verses major poets such as Torquato Tasso and Gabriello Chiabrera in addition to the major poets of the period. He often utilised melodies of other composers, modifying their style but not distorting their compositional integrity. In the 1591 Second Book of ricercars, Verso based his ricercars on the models of his teacher Vinci.
Between 1590 and 1619 Verso composed at least 15 books of madrigals for 5 voices, and additional books for 3 and 4 voices and monodies. He died in Palermo.
Il Verso is honoured today as the patron composer of the Palermo-based Associazione per la musica antica Antonio Il Verso, and the early music group Studio di Musica Antica Antonio Il Verso, frequently directed by Gabriel Garrido.
Works edit
- 1590 First Book of Madrigals for 5 voices.[1]
- 1591 Second Book of 11 Motets and 14 Ricercars in 3 voices by Pietro Vinci with 7 Ricercars by Antonio Il Verso. Probably intended for a trio of viols.[2][3]
- 1611 Sacrum Cantionum for 2,3,4 voices with a dialogue for 6 voices.[4]
- 1617 4° Libro di Madrigali a 3 voci di Antonio Il Verso, Palermo.[5]
- 1619 Fifteenth Book of Madrigals for 5 voices. Including a parody of the Lamento d'Arianna a 5 by Claudio Monteverdi's Sixth Book of Madrigals.[6]
Recordings edit
- Pietro Vinci and Antonio il Verso: Ricercars. Diego Cannizzaro, organ. Tactus 2008[7]
- Lamento d'Arianna – Lasciatemi morire in the settings of Monteverdi, Antonio Il Verso, etc. Consort of Musicke dir. Anthony Rooley[8]
References edit
- ^ ANTONIO IL VERSO IL PRIMO LIBRO DI MADRIGALI A CINQUE VOCI - 1590
- ^ Diego Cannizzaro: booklet article on Vinci and Verso, English translation.
- ^ Hugo A. Magliocco The Ricercari a tre of Pietro Vinci and Antonio il Verso: a discussion 1972
- ^ ANTONII VERSI: SACRVM CANTIONVM, QVAE BINIS, TERNIS, QVATERNISQVE VOCIBVS CONCINVNTVR. Cum Dialogo sex vocibus. Et Basso ad Organum. LIBER QVARTVS. Nunc primum in lucem editus.
- ^ Ruth Taiko Watanabe Five Italian madrigal books of the late 16th century: A transcription Antonio Il Verso, Bartolomeo Roy, Bernardino Scaramella, Pietro Paolo Quartieri, Emilio Virgelli 1951
- ^ Paolo Fabbri Monteverdi p142
- ^ rec. 7–9 September 2008, Church of San Pantaleone, Alcara Li Fusi, Messina, Italy. DDD TACTUS TC 512201 [60.20]
- ^ Recorded 1982-84 Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (EMI) 1C 165 16 95043-1 [2 LPs], reissued with Italian sung texts and Japanese translation BMG Japan BVCD-38175/76 [2 CDs] 2009