Alessandro Melani

At least three Italian families of musicians from Pistoia were of the name Melani. Alessandro was the youngest of seven sons born to Domenico di Sante Melani who were all musicians. Three sons, the two eldest and Alessandro, were the most important of the musician offspring of Domenico. Alessandro Melani served as a master of the chapel for a number of cathedrals including Orvieto and Ferrara, Pistoia, St. Maria Maggiore in Rome, and he served in a similar position for St. Luigi dei Francesi until his death. A number of Melani's sacred works survive, and, having been a composer of liturgical music in Rome, he is considered a predecessor of A. Scarlatti. As an operatic composer, Alessandro followed his brother Jacopo in reviving Roman opera. "L'empio punito" was the first opera composed in reference to the subject of Don Juan. Melani's oratorios, particularly "Il fratricidio di Caino," "Il sacrificio di Abele," and "Abele. St. Dimna," were frequently performed. His motets were usually scored for eight voices though some were arranged for nine and ten voices. The number of motets composed by Melani constitutes a large body of musical work from this period and requires close examination. ~ Keith Johnson