Angelo Berardi
Encyclopedia
Angelo Berardi was an Italian
music theorist and composer.
Born in Sant'Agata Feltria
, "Sant'Agata, Tuscany", or some other Sant'Agata yet to be identified, he received early education at Forlì
under Giovanni Vincenzo Sarti (1600–1655). From 1662 he was maestro di cappella in Montefiascone
. He studied under Marco Scacchi
at Gallese
at some time between 1650 and Scacchi's death in 1662; he included two motets by Scacchi in Book 1 of his Documenti armonici of 1687, and also cites him frequently. By 1667, when his Salmi vespertini concertati, Op.4, were published, Berardi was maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Viterbo
. He was probably made a priest
in Rome in 1672 or 1673. He was organist and maestro di cappella at Tivoli
from 21 September 1673 to 1679, and maestro di cappella and "professor of music" at the cathedral in Spoleto
in 1681 or from 1679–1683. He was a canon
at the collegiata of S. Angelo, Viterbo, when the Documenti armonici (1687) and Miscellanea musicale (1689) were published. By 1693 he was maestro di cappella at Santa Maria in Trastevere
in Rome.
He died in Rome in 1694.
Berardi composed a significant body of work, mostly of a sacred nature, but he is better known for his writings on music theory and counterpoint
. His first treatise, published in 1670 or in any case before 1681, has not survived, but is referred to in his Ragionamenti musicali (1681), which deals with the origins of music and the proliferation of musical styles. Both the Documenti armonici (1687) and the Miscellanea musicale (1689) discuss contemporary contrapuntal practices.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
music theorist and composer.
Born in Sant'Agata Feltria
Sant'Agata Feltria
Sant'Agata Feltria is a comune in the Province of Rimini in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 125 km southeast of Bologna and about 45 km south of Rimini.-Overview:...
, "Sant'Agata, Tuscany", or some other Sant'Agata yet to be identified, he received early education at Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
under Giovanni Vincenzo Sarti (1600–1655). From 1662 he was maestro di cappella in Montefiascone
Montefiascone
Montefiascone is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo, Italy, located on a hill on the southeast side of Lake Bolsena, 95 km north of GRA .-History:...
. He studied under Marco Scacchi
Marco Scacchi
Marco Scacchi was an Italian composer and writer on music.Scacchi was born in Gallese, Lazio. He studied under Giovanni Francesco Anerio in Rome. He was associated with the court at Warsaw from 1626, and was kapellmeister there from 1628 to 1649...
at Gallese
Gallese
Gallese is an Italian comune in the Province of Viterbo, 35 km from that city.It was taken by Duke Thrasimund II of Spoleto in 737 or 738, at which time it was essential to communications between Rome and Ravenna and had a large fortress....
at some time between 1650 and Scacchi's death in 1662; he included two motets by Scacchi in Book 1 of his Documenti armonici of 1687, and also cites him frequently. By 1667, when his Salmi vespertini concertati, Op.4, were published, Berardi was maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
. He was probably made a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Rome in 1672 or 1673. He was organist and maestro di cappella at Tivoli
Tivoli, Italy
Tivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
from 21 September 1673 to 1679, and maestro di cappella and "professor of music" at the cathedral in Spoleto
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
in 1681 or from 1679–1683. He was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at the collegiata of S. Angelo, Viterbo, when the Documenti armonici (1687) and Miscellanea musicale (1689) were published. By 1693 he was maestro di cappella at Santa Maria in Trastevere
Santa Maria in Trastevere
The Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere is a titular minor basilica, one of the oldest churches in Rome, and perhaps the first in which mass was openly celebrated...
in Rome.
He died in Rome in 1694.
Berardi composed a significant body of work, mostly of a sacred nature, but he is better known for his writings on music theory and counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
. His first treatise, published in 1670 or in any case before 1681, has not survived, but is referred to in his Ragionamenti musicali (1681), which deals with the origins of music and the proliferation of musical styles. Both the Documenti armonici (1687) and the Miscellanea musicale (1689) discuss contemporary contrapuntal practices.
Compositions
- 2 collections of two- to four-part sacred songs
- 4 collections of three- to six-part psalms
- about 20 masses
- chamber music of various forces
- Sinfonia a violino solo con basso continuo Libro primo Op.7 (1670)
Theoretical works
- Dicerie musicali, before 1681, lost
- Ragionamenti musicali composti dal Sig. Angelo Berardi ... dedicati all'illustriss. e reuerendiss. Sig. il Sig. abbate Carlo Antonio Sampieri da Giuseppe Orsolini luchese ... Bologna: Giacomo Monti 1681
- Aggiunta di D. Angelo Berardi, ... alli suoi ragionamenti musicali, nella quale si pruova, che la musica è vera, e reale scienza ... Bologna: Giacomo Monti 1681
- Documenti armonici di D. Angelo Berardi da S. Agata, canonico nell' insigne collegiata di S. Angelo di Viterbo, nelle quali con varii discorsi, regole, et essempii si dimostrano gli studi artificiosi della musica, oltre il modo di usare le ligature, e d'intendere il valore di ciascheduna figura sotto qual sia segno ... Bologna: Giacomo Monti 1687
- Miscellanea musicale di D. Angelo Berardi da S. Agata, canonico nell' insigne collegiata di S. Angelo di Viterbo, divisa in tre parti dove con dottrine si discorre delle materie più curiose della musica: con regole, et essempii si tratta di tutto il contrapunto con l'intreccio di bellissimi secreti per li professori armonici ... Bologna: Giacomo Monti 1689
- Arcani musicali svelati dalla vera amicitia ne' quali appariscono diversi studii artificiosi, molte osservazioni, e regole concernenti alla tessitura de' componimenti armonici, con un modo facilissimo per sonare trasportato Bologna: Pier-Maria Monti 1690
- Il perché musicale, overo staffetta armonica nella quale la ragione scioglie le difficoltà, e gli esempi dimostrano il modo d'isfuggire gli errori, e di tessere con artificio i componimenti musicali; opera del canonico D. Angelo Berardi da S. Agata ... Bologna: Pier-Maria Monti 1693