GIOVANNI GABRIELI Sonata XVIII a 14
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Born c . 1556 in Venice , Italy ; died 1612 in Venice , Italy
• Born in Venice , Gabrieli likely studied music with his uncle , who was also a composer and worked for St . Mark ’ s Basilica .
• Gabrieli carried on the family legacy and worked for St . Mark ’ s Basilica as well , first as the principal organist and then as the principal composer .
• As Gabrieli gained notoriety , musicians from all over Europe came to Venice to study with him , taking his musical influences back with them to their respective countries . As a result , Gabrieli had a major influence on musical progression throughout Europe , and it is thought that a thread can be traced between several of his German pupils and the music of J . S . Bach .
FUN FACT
Among Gabrieli ’ s many contributions , he is most remembered for his novel use of dynamics and antiphonal scoring , which is the dispersion of musicians in a space to create a multifaceted listening experience .
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE
1615
MUSIC Monteverdi ’ s Second edition of L ’ Orfeo
LITERATURE The Chinese Dictionary Zìhuì is published
ABOUT THE PIECE
• It is not known exactly what year Gabrieli composed his Sonata XVIII , but the work survives in a 1615 print , Canzoni et Sonate , compiled and published posthumously by Father P . Thaddeo .
• This stately work encapsulates Gabrieli ’ s late style and incorporates his signature antiphonal scoring , using three separate brass choirs placed apart to create a unique sound .
SCIENCE Jean Beguin publishes an edition of his chemistry book , which includes the first-ever chemical equation
HISTORY Forces under shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu take Osaka Castle in Japan
BSO SESSIONS | FEBRUARY 2021
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