Turini, Gregorio

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Turini, Gregorio

Turini, Gregorio, prominent Italian singer and instrumentalist; b. Brescia, c. 1560; d. Prague, c. 1600. He was a pupil of Giovanni Contino in Brescia. He entered the service of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague as a singer and cornett player in 1582, and was held in great esteem there; later was active as a trumpeter and drummer as well. He publ. Cantiones admondum devotae cum aliquot psalmis Davidicisfor 4 Equal Voices (Venice, 1589; 15 ed. in K. Proske, Musica Divina, II and III, Regensburg, 1854-59), Neue liebliche teutsche Lieder, nach Art der welschen Villanellenfor 4 Voices (Nuremberg, 1590), and 11 primo libro de canzonettefor 4 Voices (Nuremberg, 1597). His son, Francesco Turini (b. Prague, c. 1589; d. Brescia, 1656), was an esteemed organist, teacher, and composer; studied with his father. He was only 12 when he was made court organist. Emperor Rudolf made it possible for him to pursue training in organ, singing, and composition in Venice and Rome; after returning to Prague, he resumed his court post. He went to Italy about 1612, and was organist at Brescia Cathedral (1620-56).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire