Nanino (Nanini), Giovanni Maria
Nanino (Nanini), Giovanni Maria
Nanino (Nanini), Giovanni Maria, important Italian composer and teacher, brother of Giovanni Bernardino Nanino; b. Tivoli, 1543 or 1544; d. Rome, March 11, 1607. He was a boy soprano at Vallerano Cathedral, and was a pupil of Palestrina in Rome. Following Palestrina’s resignation as maestro di cappella at S. Maria Maggiore in 1567, Nanino was named his successor. From 1575 to 1577 he was maestro di cappella at S. Luigi dei Francesi. In 1577 he became a tenor in the papal choir, remaining a member until his death; he also was elected to the position of maestro di cappella several times after 1586. He continued an association with S. Luigi dei Francesi, and after his brother was made maestro di cappella there in 1591, he lived with him in a home maintained by the church, where they boarded and taught the boy sopranos. His pupils included Paolo Agostino, Felice Anerio, Antonio Brunelli, and other outstanding musicians. Nanino was one of the most significant composers and teachers of the Roman school. His sacred and secular works are of great merit.
Works
vocal: sacred:Motecta...nova inventione elaborata for 3 to 5 Voices (Venice, 1586; 4 are found in K. Proske, ed., Musica divina, 1/2, 4, Regensburg, 1854–62; 14 are in R. Schuler, The Life and Liturgical Works of Giovanni Maria Nanino, diss., Univ. of Minnesota, 1963); 5 Lamentations in F. Haberl, “G.M. Nanino” Kirchenmusikalisches Jahrbuch, VI (1891); 2 canons ed. by A. Cametti in Rivista Musicale Italiana, XXXV (1928); 14 motets are in R. Schuler, G.M. Nanino: Fourteen Liturgical Works (Madison, Wis., 1969). secular:II primo libro de’ madrigali for 5 Voices (Venice, c. 1571; not extant; 2nd ed., 1579); Madrigali for 5 Voices (Venice, 1581; with 13 pieces by A. Stabile); IIterzo libro de madrigali for 5 Voices (Venice, 1586; with one piece by G.B. Nanino); II primo libro delle canzonette for 3 Voices (Venice, 1593); also 257 Contrappunti e canoni a 2-11 voci (in MS).
Bibliography
G. Radiciotti, G.M. N., musicista tiburtino...Vita ed opere (Pesaro, 1909); R. Schüler, The Life and Liturgical Works of G.M. N. (diss., Univ. of Minnesota, 1963).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire