Giovanni Antonio Rigatti

(1615-1649)

Italian composer. Rigatti was choirmaster at Udine Cathedral in 1635-7, and later a priest in Venice, singing at St Mark's and teaching singing at one of the Venetian conservatories; in 1646 he directed music for the Patriarch of Venice. Highly esteemed by the age of only 20, Rigatti was an outstanding church composer in the Venice of Monteverdi's last years. He published nine volumes of sacred music (five of solo and concertato motets, four of psalms also including three Masses) and two books of secular music (monodies and concertato madrigals). His music is distinguished by charming yet forceful melodies, imaginative structures and dramatic word painting.



VA: Monody and the Vocal Concerto