Luzzaschi, Luzzasco
Luzzaschi, Luzzasco
Luzzaschi, Luzzasco, eminent Italian organist, pedagogue, and composer; b. Ferrara, 1545?; d. there, Sept. 10, 1607. He began studies as a child with Cipriano de Rore, remaining under his tutelage until 1558. He became a singer at the Este court (1561), and was first organist there from 1564 until the court’s demise in 1597, and also directed one of its orchs.; likewise was organist at Ferrara Cathedral and at the Accademia della Morte. He also became director of Duke Alfonso’s private musica da camera about 1569. He was one of the finest madrigalists of his day. He was also highly esteemed as a teacher, and was the mentor of Frescobaldi. Among his secular vocal works are 7 books of madrigals for 5 Voices (1571–1604), Madrigali...per cantare, et sonare a uno, e doi, e tre soprani (Rome, 1601; ed. in Monumenti di Musica Italiana, II/2,1965), and others in contemporary anthologies. He also composed the sacred Sacrarum cantionum liber primus for 5 Voices (Venice, 1598). Included in his instrumental works are Canzona for Organ in A. Raverii, Canzoni per sonar (Venice, 1608), a number of ricercari, a toccata, and a dance.
Bibliography
E. Strainchamps, L. L. and His Five-part Madrigals (diss., Columbia Univ., 1960); A. Spiro, The Five-part Madrigals of L. L.. (diss., Boston Univ., 1961).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire