Theorist

1 of 1 Pages

1726–1814 English music theorist and writer Burney was undoubtedly the most important English writer on music of his time. The theorist was born in Shrewsbury and brought up in Chester. There he met Arne, to whom he was apprenticed. Later he took posts as organist and worked in the London theatres. In the 1770s he made two long journeys through France, Italy, Germany and the Low Countries, meeting numerous musicians and reporting ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
197 Words Read More

(Jo-zef’-fo Tsâr-le’-no) 1517–90 Italian theorist and composer Zarlino’s early musical experience was in the circle around Willaert in Venice in the 1540s. He was maestro di cappella at St Mark’s, Venice, from 1565 until his death. In 1558 Zarlino published his Institutioni harmoniche, the first of a number of books that remain central to the canon of music theory. In its third part, he set out an exposition of the rules of classical ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
119 Words Read More

(Jo-van’-ne Bat-tes’-ta Mär-te’-ne) 1706–84 Italian theorist and composer Padre Martini, as he was always known, was the most influential theorist and musical thinker of his time. He was born in Bologna, traditionally a centre of learning, where he studied with his father and leading musicians before entering a monastery. He returned to Bologna as organist and then as maestro di cappella at San Francesco, and was ordained in 1729. He composed much music, ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
211 Words Read More

(Joo-sep’-pa Tär-te’-ne) 1692–1770 Italian composer and theorist Tartini was born in Pirano and studied law at Padua, where he was appointed primo violino e capo di concerto (‘first violin and concertmaster’) at the Basilica in 1721. In 1728 he founded a school of violinists there which became known as the Scuola della Nazioni (‘School of Nations’), as it attracted students from all over Europe. Tartini’s musical reputation for fiery gestures and virtuoso passagework ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
196 Words Read More

(Zhan Fi-lep’ Ra-mo’) 1683–1764 French composer and theorist Rameau was born in Dijon, where he was first taught music by his father. During his early years he held organist’s posts in several places, including Avignon and Clermont-Ferrand, Paris (where he published his first harpsichord pieces in 1706), Dijon (1709), Lyons (c. 1713), and once more at Clermont-Ferrand (1715). He finally settled in Paris in 1722. In the same year he published his first ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
548 Words Read More

(Yo’-han Yo’-sef Fooks) 1660–1741 German composer, organist and theorist There are large gaps in the biographical knowledge of Fux. It is almost certain that he was born into a peasant family somewhere in Germany, but precisely where he acquired his musical skills remains a mystery. Real knowledge of the composer begins from 1698, when Emperor Leopold I appointed Fux Hofcomponist (‘head composer’) at the Vienna court. In 1700 Fux travelled to Rome, and ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
221 Words Read More

(Yo’-han Mat’-te-zon) 1681–1764 German composer and theorist Mattheson was the most important writer on music during the Baroque era. His Die Vernünfftler, which translated the Tatler and Spectator of Addison and Steele, was the first German weekly (1713). He befriended Handel when he arrived in Hamburg in 1703 and sang the leading tenor role in Handel’s first opera, Almira (1705). He was one of the few composers whose operas were performed regularly at ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
188 Words Read More

(Yo-an’-nez Se-kon’-ya) c. 1370–1412 Franco-Flemish composer and theorist Ciconia was active principally in Italy. For many years he was regarded as the main link between Machaut and Du Fay, and although other influential composers have now come to the fore, he is still seen as one of the most important figures of his generation. He wrote songs in French and Italian, music for the Mass and motets. His works cover a wide range ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
185 Words Read More

(Yo-an’-nes Tink’-tôr-is) 1430–after 1511 French theorist Tinctoris attended university at Orléans and worked for most of his adult life at the Aragonese court in Naples. There he produced the most authoritative body of theoretical writing on music of his time. He was familiar with current musical practices, and dedicated one of his treatises to his contemporaries Ockeghem and Busnoys. His surviving compositions testify to a musician of real inspiration. Recommended Recording: Missa L’Homme armé, Missa ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
99 Words Read More

(Mekh’-a-el Pri-tô’-re-oos) c. 1571–1621 German composer and theorist Born into a strict Lutheran household, Praetorius became one of the greatest and most prolific early composers in the Protestant tradition. He composed over 1,000 sacred works – mostly hymns based on Lutheran chorales, but also German psalm settings and some Latin-texted works. Today, however, Praetorius is best known for his Syntagma musicum (‘Musical Survey’, 1614–20), a three-volume work. The most important section is the ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
179 Words Read More

(Fe-lep’ de Ve-tre’) 1291–1361 French theorist and composer As a result of his treatise Ars nova (c. 1322) Philippe de Vitry was the most musically influential figure of his day. It described new developments in mensural notation, allowing composers more rhythmic flexibility and therefore compositional variety. Unfortunately, no songs known to be by Vitry have survived, but a number of motets are ascribed to him in manuscripts, and still more can be attributed ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
123 Words Read More

c. 1557–1602 English composer and theorist Morley was the most important composer involved in developing the English Elizabethan madrigal from its Italian counterpart. In the 1580s and 1590s he published some English translations of Italian madrigals with newly composed English works of his own, which imitated the Italian style. His most famous works are the ‘fa la la’ madrigals: pieces with a nonsense refrain. Morley is also known for his treatise A ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
130 Words Read More

(Vin-chant’-zo Ga-le-la’-e) c. 1520–91 Italian theorist and musician The father of Galileo Galilei, Vincenzo, also had a scientific mind. His experience as a lutenist and composer formed the practical basis for a significant body of music theory. His later works, especially, are heavily influenced by contemporary humanist enquiry into the nature of ancient music and, in particular, the work of the classical scholar Girolamo Mei. In the Dialogo della musica (1581), Galilei condemned ...

Source: Classical Music Encyclopedia, founding editor Stanley Sadie
129 Words Read More
1 of 1 Pages

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.