Giovanni Gabrieli: Understanding the Music Behind the Man, Essay Example

Introduction

This research hopes to explore the life and works of Giovanni Gabrieli, an Italian composer and organist in the late 1500’s to early 1600’s. Known for his creative definition of the culmination of the Venetian School and the shift of musical arrangements between the renaissance and baroque eras, Gabrieli’s works were identified to be the mixture of eras that were defined to have a great impact on how music has evolved into a more artistic form that it is known for at present. This research is imposing to create a definition that would help readers find out more about Gabrieli and his works and how much impact he has made in the modern music industry. Although not so much known as that of Beethoven, it is noted that Gabrieli did have a great contribution on establishing the roots of good and contemporary music.

Background of Musician’s Life

Born in Venice among five brothers and sisters, Gabrieli was known to have studied with his uncle Andrea Gabrieli who was a well known composer of his own time. After being taught by his uncle, Giovanni Gabrieli went to study in Munich and was then given the chance to meet with other well-noted musicians who served as his mentors. Upon his return to Venice in 1585, he became the principal organist at San Marco Di Venezia. During the years of his stay in his homeland, he went back and checked his uncle’s works and specifically decided to make sure that his works be published for recognition. This then resulted to the first release of Giovanni Gabrielli’s works under the supposed guidance of his uncle. Most of the other works released by Gabrielli later on was noted to have a great source of foundation based on the traditional music of Venice that specifically defined his character as a composer and organist altogether.

Proposed Sources for Research

To complete this research, works from Grout, Charteris, Kenton and Sefridge-Field shall be examined in line with the definitions they have used to identify the musical talents of Gabrielli along with the his remarkable works that served as his contributions to the musical industry. Relatively, it is expected that through these reliable materials, this research shall be able to provide a useful picture that could refine the course by which Giovanni Gabrielli is better recognized in the field of music that is noted in the contemporary era.

Reflections and Reactions

True, unlike Mozart and Beethoven, Gabrielli had a less-known name in the music industry. However, this does not mean that he is anything less than the other two musicians mentioned. It is imposed that somehow, this research shall provide a better vision in defining his worth to the modern musical forms that are considered to be the fusion of different eras of development which is highly recognized in contemporary music. Gabrielli was known for his capability to experiment and play along the need to create musical fusions to make new genres, a practice that modern musicians also adapt to at present.

References:

Grout, Donald Jay, A History of Western Music. W.W. Norton & Co., 1980. ISBN 0-393-95136-7

Charteris, Richard; Giovanni Gabrieli (ca. 1555–1612): a Thematic Catalogue of his Music with a Guide to the Source Materials and Translations of his Vocal Texts. New York, 1996.

Kenton, Egon. Life and Works of Giovanni Gabrieli. American Institute of Musicology, 1967.

Selfridge-Field, Eleanor. Venetian Instrumental Music, from Gabrieli to Vivaldi. New York, Dover Publications, 1994