Giovanni Battista Bassani

Bassani was born in Padua. It is thought that he studied in Venice under Daniele Castrovillari and in Ferrara under Giovanni Legrenzi. Charles Burney and John Hawkins claimed he taught Arcangelo Corelli, but there is no solid evidence for this assertion. He was an organist at the Accademia della Morte in Ferrara from 1667, but had probably left by 1675. He published his first music in 1677; the title page calls him maestro of music at the Confraternità della Morte in Finale Emilia, not far from Modena. He was maestro di cappella at Duke Alessandro II della Mirandola's court in 1680, and was elected principe at the Accademica Filarmonica in Bologna. He became maestro di cappella at the Accademia della Morte in Ferrara in 1683, and then maestro di cappella at Ferrara Cathedral in 1686. For his contributions to the musical life of Ferrara, he was often called "Bassani of Ferrara". He wrote 76 liturgically ordered services for use at Ferrara Cathedral between 1710 and 1712. He became director of music at Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo in 1712, and also taught at the Congregazione di Carità in the same city until his death. Bassani was a celebrated violinist in his own time, and his fame was compounded by Burney's praise for him. His trio sonatas are his best-known and most often performed pieces in modern times. He wrote 13 oratorios, but only four survive, and all 13 of his operas have been lost aside from a few arias from Gli amori alla moda.

Operas L'amorosa preda di Paride, 1683 Falarido, tiranno d'Agrigento, 1685 L'Alarico, re de'Goti, 1685 Vitige, re de'Vandalia, 1686 Agrippina in Baia, 1687 Gli amori alla moda, 1688, 10 arias survive Il trionfo di Venere in Ida, 1688 La Ginevra, infanta di Scozia, 1690 Le vicende di cocceio Nerva, 1691 Gli amori tra gl'odii, o sia Il Ramiro in Norvegia, 1693 Roderico, 1696 Armida al campo, 1711 Oratorios L'Esaltazione di S Croce, 1675 L'Epulone, 1675 La tromba della divina misericordia, 1676 L'amore ingeniero, 1678 Il mistico Roveto, 1681 La morte delusa, 1686 Il Davide punito overo La pestilente strage d'Israele, 1686; performed as Nella luna eclissata dal Cristiano valore, 1687, and as La Pietà trionfante della morte, 1692 and 1697 Il Giona, 1689 Mosè risorto dalle acque, 1694 Il conte di Bacheville, 1696 Susanna, 1697 Gl'impegni del divino amore nel transito della Beata Caterina Vegri detta di Bologna, 1703 Il trionfo della Fede, 1704 Other vocal works 8 masses at least 20 motets various sacred solo vocal works and choral works 76 services, most with four solo voices, chorus, and basso continuo Instrumental music 16 trio sonatas 12 sinfonie da chiesa, op. 5, 1683