Ruggiero Giovanelli

Composer, b. at Velletri, near Rome, in 1560; d. at Rome, 7 January, 1625. In 1584 he was appointed choir-master at the church of San Luigi de’ Francesi in Rome, and subsequently at the Chiesa dell’ Anima. As a composer of madrigals he was exceedingly fertile, and his six books of them, with one of canzonets and vilanelles, appeared between the years 1585 and 1606. So great was his fame as a choir-master and composer that on the death of the illustrious Palestrina, he was appointed his successor, 12 March, 1594. Among his sacred works are some beautiful masses for eight and twelve voices, and some pleasing motets. So little is known of his later years that biographers could formerly find no trace of Giovanelli after 1615, at which date he published the second volume of his new edition of the Graduale known as the “Medicean”. However, thanks to the researches of W.H. Frey, of Berlin, it is now certain that Giovanelli lived ten years longer. He was buried in the church of Santa Marta.