Pietro Magri. — Priest and musician, b. at Vigarano Mainarda in 1873, d. at Oropa on 24 July 1937. He studied at the Seminary of Faenza, where he was ordained priest on 19 December 1897. Soon after he went to Venice, where he was a pupil of Perosi. He remained there for four years as assistant director of the chapel of St Mark’s and teacher of singing at the Seminary. In 1901 he became maestro di cappella at the cathedral of Bari, and in 1911 he succeeded Maestro Casimiri as director of the chapel of the cathedral of Vercelli. In 1919 he moved to the sanctuary of Oropa as organist and maestro di cappella.
He composed much sacred music: Masses, psalms, hymns, motets, sonatas for organ and piano, and the oratorios La regina dei Pirenei (Lourdes 1913) and La regina delle Alpi (Oropa 1920). All Magri’s compositions are inspired and melodic, enlivened by technically well-conducted harmony. He was untiring in his efforts for the reform of sacred music.
Silvério Mattei