ABBATINI, ANTONIO MARIA. - Musician, b. in Città di Castello in 1597 (?), d. there between 1679 and 1680. From 1628 he was maestro di cappella at the Basilica of the Lateran, then returned to his homeland where he took up the position of maestro di cappella at 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 maestro di cappella at S. Maria Maggiore; then at S. Lorenzo in Damaso, then again at S. Maria Maggiore, which he left in January 1657. In 1667-68 he was at Loreto, whence he returned to S. Maria Maggiore, remaining there until 13 June 1677.
The above belongs to that group of musicians who sought to develop the premises of 16th-century polyphony by increasing the choral forces to 16, 32, 48, or more voices. This trend, characteristic of the Roman school of the time, would necessarily lead church music to imposing sonic effects, but also to an excessive use of means typical of the Baroque era. Perhaps the composer’s greatest merit was having been the teacher of an elite group of pupils, among whom were Marcantonio Cesti and Giov. Paolo Colonna.