Giovanni Priuli

Priuli studied with Gabrieli in Venice and substituted for him as organist at St. Mark's. He was the Hofkapellmeister for the court of Archduke Ferdinand, Ferdinand II. Compositions by Priuli included sacred and secular pieces as well as instrumental works. The latter are contained in two volumes set between 1618 and 1619 with counterpoint and a blend and balance of themes between the sixteen works. "Canzone in echo" was scored for twelve voices and arranged so that the upper three voices of instruments echoed each other through dynamic variations. Madrigals, including "Presso un fiume tranquillo," were most often arranged for five voices and most of Priuli's sacred music was arranged for many voices separated into at least two choirs. "Bonum est confiteri" was set for ten parts with a dominant polyphony over an above the import of the melody. ~ Keith Johnson