Giovanni Orsino Valentini

https://youtu.be/UatJgTCbWSw a recording of composition by Giovanni Valentini

Giovanni Orsino Valentini, was born somewhere around, 1582, in Venice. His death was on or about about the 29th or 30th of April 1649, in Vienna.

Valentini was an Italian Baroque composer, of both opera and orchestaral music, a poet, as well virtuoso on keyboard and the organ of much applause.

Gionanni's work being of equal skill and importance as those of his contemporaries whose names we know well. Valentini is practically all but forgotten in the present day.

From 1614 till 1626 he occupied one of the most prestigious musical posts of his time, as the court composer of Ferdinand the II. After which he became "Kappelmiester/Master of the Chapel Choir"

Valentini is best remembered for his daring and innovative instrumental music. His experimental use of asymmetric meters which was a radical approach in that day and age.

Among his many works are two operas, "La statue matematica" and "Le nozze in contrasto", the latter of which premiered at the Teatro San Moisè, Venice, in November of 1774.

Valentini’s teaching skills were in great demand, two his most prestigious students being Ferdinand the II and Ferdinand the III with his most important protege being Johann Kaspar Kerll. Who’s musical works and legacy achieved greater reknown than his mentor.

In his later years he gave up music entirely to the confusion of many. Choosing to spend his time pursuing the study and writing of poetry. It is said he was prolific and his verse well received.

Bio compiled from various sources by Robert William Moon

Notes

https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/uni/presse/RuCa3_98/leopold.htm

… Honored and wealthy, Valentini died in 1649, one year after the end of the Thirty Years' War, in his house near the Hofburg with his family.
Sleek courtier, skilful negotiator
No portrait of Valentini has come down to us, no private statement, only a few archival facts. It is difficult to form an idea of ​​the personality of this composer who held one of the highest musical offices of his time. And yet some clues give rise to the image of an extraordinary musician, a lithe courtier and skilful negotiator, or perhaps simply a lovable and certainly highly educated person. For himself, but also for the members of the court orchestra, Valentini obtained extensive salary increases. Several exorbitantly high special donations from the caskets of both emperors, the last one after his death to his widow, testify to the extraordinary appreciation that Valentini enjoyed from his masters, which was unclouded for decades. The most important answers to the question of his personality, however, must be given by his works; some surprising things come to light …

References

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapellmeister
• https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11006620
• https://dbpedia.org/page/Giovanni_Valentini
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Valentini
• https://gw.geneanet.org/altagene?lang=en&iz=306&p=giovanni+orsino&n...
• https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/uni/presse/RuCa3_98/leopold.htm