Azzolino Bernardino della Ciaia

As a member of the knights of St. Stefano, Della Ciaia proposed the construction of an organ with 60 registers for the city of Pisa. It had four manuals and five organs. Three of the organs could be played upon one keyboard. An independent keyboard for an harpsichord was realized as well. This was not Della Ciaia's only musical contribution although his legacy could rest upon this design alone. He also composed cantatas, masses, and a combination of sacred and secular music. The keyboard music included fantasias and counterpoint. Pieces for the harpsichord were written in sonata-like form combining a tocata, three-part canzona and two two-part pieces. The rhythms vary between vertical chordaity and horizontal freedom with full use of the range of the instrument and an evolved style employing key-related ascending and descending passages. ~ Keith Johnson