Gioseffo Guami

By the age of twenty one Guami was at St Mark's studying with Willaert and Podavano. He sang, composed, played the organ and played stringed instruments. On the organ he was not just excellent but unequalled and his playing, singing and composing were highly praised. His numerous professional positions included first organist and `capo delli concerti' for Duke Albert V of Bavaria, master of the chapel court for Prince Gian Andrea Doria in Genoa, first organist of St Marks in Lucca, and organist of Lucca Cathedral after losing the successorship for Zarlino as the master of the cathedral. All of Guami's music shows the Venetian influence of Willaert in the careful workmanship of the textual data, colorful treatment of music and text, his use of chromaticism and cross-relations, and the implementation of patterns built upon the circle-of-fifths. His early motets were plays upon his own mass and included duets for figured bass as well as a motet for sixteen voices. Guami's instrumental canzonas were at times antiphonal, written for eight parts with elaborately decorated passages, and structured through well ordered models. The demonstration of his musical adeptness could be found in his playing and composing particularly in the development of motifs. As a teacher Guami also excelled including his tutelage of Banchieri. ~ Keith Johnson