MASCAGNI, PIETRO. - Master composer, born in Livorno on 7 Dec. 1863, died in Rome on 2 Aug. 1945. He began his studies at the school of sacred music under Maestro Bianchi, continuing them with Söffredini at the Cherubini Institute in Livorno, where he had some of his early compositions performed: several cantatas and two symphonies; some sacred pieces also gave a good indication of the young composer’s talent. Having entered the Milan Conservatory, he refined his skills under Ponchielli and Saladino, with Puccini as his fellow student.
In 1888 he became conductor of the Philharmonic Society in Cerignola and composed a solemn mass which was successfully performed in the cathedral of Orvieto. In 1890 he won the Sonzogno competition with *Cavalleria rusticana*, which opened the way to glory for M. This was followed by about ten other stage works which met with full success. He also wrote a requiem mass, numerous cantatas, various chamber music pieces, and many articles for musical journals, revealing himself as a witty writer and lively polemicist. From 1895 to 1902 he was director of the Music Lyceum in Pesaro, where he established a chair for the teaching of sacred music in harmony with the demands of the contemporary revival movement.
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 in the richness of its singability, expressive impetus, vividness of rough colours, singular originality of harmonic movement and melodic fantasy” (F. Abbiati, *Storia della musica*, V, Milan 1946, p. 35).