Emilio de' Cavalieri

Emilio de ' Cavalieri (* 1550 in Rome, † March 11, 1602 ) was an Italian composer, organist, diplomat, choreographer and dancer at the end of the era of the Renaissance.

Along with that of other composers from Venice, Rome and Florence His work marked the beginning of the early Baroque period with monody and basso continuo. As a member of the Roman School, he was co-founder of monody, and wrote rappresentazione di anima et corpo, is considered the first oratorio today.

Life

Cavalieri was born in Rome as son of an aristocratic and musical family. Apparently, he got there first music lessons, where he worked as an organist and music director from 1578 to 1584. 1588 he moved to Florence, because it Ferdinando I de ' Medici had ordered as a musician and craftsman. He contributed to the development of the interludes and worked in this field with Giovanni de Bardi. Probably Cavalieri was influenced by Bardi. In the 1590ern Cavalieri composed, even in Florence weilend, some Pastorale. In addition to his musical offices Cavalieri worked as a diplomat.

Works

• Rappresentazione di anima e corpo, oratorio, world premiere 1600