Pistocchi, Francesco Antonio Mamiliano

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Pistocchi, Francesco Antonio Mamiliano

Pistocchi, Francesco Antonio Mamiliano , noted Italian singer, teacher, and composer, known as II Pistocchino; b. Palermo, 1659; d. Bologna, May 13, 1726. A precocious child, he sang in public at age 3 and publ. his first work, Capricci puerilli, when he was 8. He made appearances as a singer in Bologna’s cappella musicale at S. Petronio (from 1670), where he was permanently engaged as a soprano (1674–75), then toured as a contralto with great success in his homeland and in Germany. He was in the service of the Parma court (1686–95), then was Kapellmeister to the Margrave of Brandenburg in Ansbach (1696–99). After a sojourn in Vienna (1699–1700), he returned to Bologna, and once more sang in the cappella musicale at S. Petronio (1701–8); was made virtuoso di camera e di cappella to Prince Ferdinando of Tuscany (1702). He was active as a singing teacher, his notable pupils being Antonio Bernacchi, Annibale Pio Fabri, and G.B. Martini. Having been elected to membership in the Accademia Filarmonica (1687), he served as its principe (1708, 1710); took Holy Orders (1709); became honorary chaplain to the Elector Palatine Johann Wilhelm (1714); was made a member of the Congregation of the Oratory in Forli (1715).

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Il Leandro (Venice, May 15, 1679; 2^nd version, Venice, Jan. 1682); Il Narciso (Ansbach, March 1697); Le pazzie d’amore e dell’interesse (Ansbach, June 16, 1699); Le risa di Democrito (Vienna, Feb. 17, 1700); I Rivali generosi (Reggio Emilia, April 1710; in collaboration with C. Monari and G. Cappelli). Oratorios : Sant’Adriano (Modena, 1692); Maria vergine addolorata (Ansbach, 1698); Il sacrificio di Gefte (Bologna, 1720); I Pastori al Presepe (Bologna, Dec. 25, 1721); Davide (Bologna, March 19, 1721). Cantata : La pace tra l’armi, sorpresa notturna nel campo (Ansbach, Sept. 5, 1700). OTHER : Capricci puerili saviamente composti e passeggiati in 40 modi sopra un basso d’un balleto, per il clavicembalo ed altri instrumenti, op.l (Bologna, 1667); Duetti e terzetti, op.3 (Bologna, 1707); etc.