Giacomo Carissimi

Giacomo Carissimi ( baptized April 18, 1605 in Marino, near Rome, † January 12, 1674 in Rome) was an Italian composer.

Carissimi was Kapellmeister in 1624 in Assisi and in 1628 at the Minor Basilica of Saint Apollinare Collegium Germanicum in Rome. In this modest position Carissimi developed a sweeping reorganization of almost all subjects of contemporary music.

By Carissimi since the beginning of the 17th century incipient reform movement of Italian music received her first degree. He formed the secular cantata, the aria and the duet in such a skillful way that the whole further development of these forms came in on his ideas. This is particularly true for the recitative. Even the choirs gave Carissimi an increased expression.

A major merit of the composer remains that he also tried to church music imparting this new style. To this end he composed a number of histories in cantata form. Here, combined accompanied solo singing with expressive choirs. He invented the later biblical oratorio. One of his pupils was Alessandro Scarlatti probably, but certainly Philipp Jakob Baudrexel, Antonio Cesti and Marc- Antoine Charpentier.

Carissimi was buried in Saint Apollinare.

His successor as maestro di cappella at the Collegio Germanico 1686, describes him as: very frugal in its internal affairs, very noble manners towards friends and acquaintances, tall, thin and prone to melancholy ..

Works (selection)

• Oratories Historia di Jephte
• Baltazar
• Jonah
• Judicium Solomon
• Ars cantandi a guide to vocal art. ( German translation Augsburg 1696 )
• Historia divitis
• Dives Malus
• Historia di job
• Vanitas Vanitatum
• Oratorio della SS Vergine