Casini, Giovanni Maria

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Casini, Giovanni Maria

Italian organist and composer; b. Florence, Dec. 16, 1652; d. there, Feb. 25, 1719. He studied composition in Florence, and later in Rome with Matteo Simonelli and Bernardo Pasquini (organ). He became a priest and served as organist and maestro di cappella at Florence Cathedral from 1703; retired in 1711 owing to ill health. As a keyboard composer, Casini represents the late Baroque style.

Works

Canzonette spirituali (Florence, 1703); a collection of motets for 4 Voices, op.l (Rome, 1706); Responsori per la Settimana Santa, op.2 (Florence, 1706); Pensieri per l’organo, op.3 (Florence, 1714); several oratorios.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire