Animuccia, Giovanni

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Animuccia, Giovanni

Animuccia, Giovanni, notable Italian composer; b. Florence, c. 1500; d. Rome, March 20(?), 1571. He was probably the brother of Paolo Animuccia. After training in Florence, he settled in Rome. By 1550 he was in the service of Cardinal Guido Ascanio Sforza. In 1555 he succeeded Palestrina as magister cantorum at the Cappella Giulia. He composed his Laudi spirituali (2 vols., 1563, 1570) for the Oratory of Filippo Neri, which are noteworthy for their simple chordal style for the encouragement of lay participation. He also publ. 4 vols, of madrigals (1547, 1551, 1554, 1565), a vol. of masses (1567), and a vol. of Magnificats (1568). His works mark a gradual emancipation from the involved formalism of the Flemish school in the direction of a more practical style à la Palestrina. He was a master of polyphony who excelled in canonic writing.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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