Penna, Lorenzo
Penna, Lorenzo
Penna, Lorenzo, Italian composer; b. Bologna, 1613; d. there, Oct. 31, 1693. He studied at the Univ. of Ferrara. In 1630 he entered the Carmelite monastery of S. Martino in Bologna, becoming maestro di cappella at S. Illario in Casale Monferrato (1656). In 1665 he received his doctorate in theology from the Univ. of Ferrara. He was then maestro di cappella at S. Cassiano in Imola (1667–69), and in 1669 entered the Carmelite Order in Mantua, remaining until 1672. Subsequently he was maestro di cappella at the church of the Carmine in Parma (1672–73). In 1676 he became a member of the Accademia dei Filarmonici in Bologna, where he remained until his death.
Works
Messe e salmi concertati for 5 Voices, 2 Violins ad libitum, and Basso Continuo (1656); Psalmorum totius anni modulatio...for 4 to 5 Voices (1669); Correnti francesi a quattro, with String Instruments (1673; designated as “Sonate” in the dedication); Il sacro Parnaso delli salmi festivi for 4 to 8 Voices (1677); Reggia del sacro Parnaso...for 4 to 8 Voices (1677); Galeria del sacro Parnaso...for 4 to 8 Voices, with Instrumental Accompaniment ad libitum (1678).
Writings
Li primi albori musicali per li principianti della musica figurata (Bologna, 1672; 5th ed., 1696); Direttorio del canto fermo (1689).
Bibliography
J.-H. Lederer, L. P. und seine Kontrapunkttheorie (diss., Univ. of Graz, 1970).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire