Abbatini, Antonio Maria

ABBATINI, ANTONIO MARIA. - Musician, b. at Città di Castello in 1597 (?), d. there between 1679 and 1680. From 1628 he was choirmaster of the Lateran basilica, then returned to his native town, where he took up the post of choirmaster in the cathedral. He remained there until 1632, when he went to Orvieto, but by 1635 he had already returned to Città di Castello. In 1640 he was in Rome as choirmaster at St. Mary Major; then at St. Lawrence in Damaso, then again at St. Mary Major, which he left in January 1657. In 1667-68 he was at Loreto, whence he returned to St. Mary Major, remaining there until 13 June 1677.

A. belongs to that band of musicians who sought to develop the premises of sixteenth-century polyphony by increasing the choral forces to 16, 32, 48 and more voices. This tendency, characteristic of the Roman school of that time, would necessarily lead church music to imposing sonic effects, but also to an excessive deployment of means, characteristic of the Baroque era. Perhaps A.'s greatest merit was that of having been the teacher of a select band of pupils, among whom were Marcantonio Cesti and Giov. Paolo Colonna.