Paolo Quagliati

This Italian organist left Chioggia at the approximate age of nineteen for Rome, 1574. He became a Roman citizen twenty years later and was of great service to the music of the city. Quagliati was the organist and composer for S. Maria Maggiore probably serving there until his death. In his later years Quagliati also served Cardinal Ludovisi who became Pope Gregory XV. Becoming the private chamberlain to the pope it is not surprising that Quagliati's daughter married the pope's nephew. The high esteem in which Quagliati was held can easily be ascertained from the "Giardano musicale." This was an anthology of collected works by Roman composers, including Frescobaldi, who dedicated this work to Quagliati. Musically he preferred lighter forms indicated by his secret publication of secular pieces. He can be seen as a composer who was trying to meld two different styles or, as a composer who was uncertain about which style to use. He catered to both tastes in a publication of madrigals when he scored them both in the concerted style and in monody. "Il carro di Fedelta d'Amore" were celebratory compositions characterized as a group of short solos ending with a five part concerted madrigal. Quagliati's "La sfera armoniosa" was a collection of twenty five pieces, including solos and duets with concerted violin. His "Ricercate e canzoni" was more contrapuntally oriented than his other compositions. The sacred works extended from monodies to a twelve part composition and most of Quagliati's music was scored in predominantly diatonic harmonies. ~ Keith Johnson