Bonfichi, Paolo

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Bonfichi, Paolo

Bonfichi, Paolo, Italian organist and composer; b. Livraga, near Lodi, Oct. 6, 1769; d. Lodi, Dec. 29, 1840. He was self-taught as a keyboard performer; attended the Univ. of Parma, where he studied figured bass. He entered the order of Servi di Maria in 1787, but returned to music while in Rome as a student of counterpoint with Guglielmo. He then lived in a monastery in Poina (1796–1805); subsequently was in Milan; in 1829 became maestro di cappella at the Santa Casa of Loreto, where he remained until 1839. He composed mainly music for the church, including oratorios and cantatas.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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