Banchieri, Adriano

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Banchieri, Adriano (b Bologna, 1568; d Bologna, 1634). It. composer, organist, and theorist. Org., S. Michele, Bosco, and of Monte Oliveto, where in 1613 he became abbot. His L'organo suonarino, pubd. Venice 1605, contains first precise rules for accompanying from a figured bass. In Moderna practica musicale (Venice 1613) he discusses alterations necessary because of the influence of figured bass on ornaments in singing. Comp. much church mus., also ‘Intermedi’ for comedies. His La pazzia senile (1598), based on the commedia dell'arte character Pantaloon, is regarded as almost the first comic opera. He was pioneer of fantasies for instr. ens.