MASCAGNI, PIETRO. - Composer and conductor, b. at Livorno on 7 Dec. 1863, d. at Rome on 2 Aug. 1945. At the school of sacred music of maestro Bianchi he did his first studies, which he then continued with Soffredini at the Cherubini Institute of Livorno, where he had his first compositions performed: some cantatas and two symphonies; also some sacred pieces gave good promise of the young author, who, having entered the Conservatory of Milan, perfected himself with Ponchielli and with Saladino, having Puccini as a companion.
In 1888 he went as director of the philharmonic society of Cerignola and composed a solemn mass that was performed with success at the cathedral of Orvieto. In 1890 he won the Sonzogno competition with La cavalleria rusticana, which opened for M. the road to glory. About ten other theatrical works followed that had full success. He also wrote a requiem mass, numerous cantatas, various chamber music and many articles for musical journals, revealing himself a witty writer and lively polemicist. From 1895 to 1902 he was director of the Liceo musicale of Pesaro, where he instituted a chair for the teaching of sacred music in harmony with the needs of the movement of its rebirth.
He was a member of the Accademia d'Italia from its foundation. M. is one of the most popular representatives of contemporary theatrical music, and «his art excels for richness of cantability, expressive power, liveliness of rough colors, singular originality of harmonic movements and melodic fantasy» (F. Abbiati, Storia della musica, V, Milan 1946, p. 35).
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