GIOVANNELLI (GIOVANELLI), RUGGERO. - Musician, b. at Velletri around 1560, d. at Rome on 8 Jan. 1625. A pupil of Nannini, he very soon excelled through his strong and precocious musical talent. At Rome he was maestro di cappella at S. Luigi dei Francesi from 6 Aug. 1583 to 1 Apr. 1591; he then moved to the Collegio Germanico-Ungarico. So great was the fame he had won that on 12 March 1594 he was called to succeed Palestrina in the direction of the Cappella Giulia at St. Peter's. On 7 Apr. 1599 he was admitted to the College of chaplain singers of the Pontifical Chapel. He was among the members of the retinue of Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini.
G. was one of the most distinguished composers of his time, and his music is distinguished by the perfect blending of the voices, the freshness of inspiration and the limpidity of the harmony.
The following have been printed: Madrigali a 5 voci (Venice 1585); Tre libri di madrigali a 5 voci (ibid. 1856, 87, 89); Primo libro delle villanelle (ibid. 1588); Gli sdruccioli a 4 voci (ibid. 1589); Sacrorum modulationum liber primus (Rome 1589); Due libri di madrigali sdruccioli a 4 voci (Venice 1587, 92); Raccolta di canzonette a 3 voci (Rome 1592); Primo libro di mattetti a 5 voci (ibid. 1593); Secondo libro di mattetti a 5 voci (ibid. 1594); Le villanelle eterie alla napoletana a 3 voci (Rome 1593); Secondo libro dei madrigali a 5 voci (Venice 1599); Terzo libro dei madrigali a 5 voci (ibid. 1599). Some compositions for 8 voices are in collections by Costantini (Rome 1614). Masses, Psalms and hymns are in manuscript at St. Peter's. Paul V charged him with preparing a new edition of the Gradual for the use of the Pontifical Chapel, which was published in 1614, after fully seven years of work.
Bibliography
Silverio Mattei