Baroque

Girolamo Frescobaldi

Baptized in Ferrara, September 9, 1583
d. Rome, March 1, 1643

Biography

Girolamo Frescobaldi was an important Italian organist and composer. He studied with Luzzasco Luzzaschi in Ferrara before moving to Rome as a singer and organist at the Academy of St. Cecelia. In 1608 he became organist at St Peter's in Rome. After a brief appointment at the Florentine court from 1628-1633, Frescobaldi returned to St. Peter's, remaining there until his death.

Except for a short stay in Brussels and Antwerp, Frescobaldi never left his home country. Despite this, Frescobaldi was highly influential throughout Baroque Germany, due in part to his student Froberger. That Froberger, court musician in Vienna, came all the way to Rome to study with him is an indication of Frescobaldišs renown.

Frescobaldi's greatest accomplishment was his Fiori Musicali, which influenced the Baroque variation form. His large output of keyboard works continually strove to expand chromatic language and the use of dissonance.

Points of Interest

30,000 people attended his first performance at St. Peter's. He was regarded as a great virtuoso.

Representative Works