Understanding the Music Behind the Man, Research Paper Example

The Man behind the Name

Music is one of the most important forms of art that characterizes human excellence. In a way, the definition of music also insists on the definition of the human capability to create an artistic form of self expression that indicates their love for beautiful tunes and rhythms put together in a harmonious arrangement. For many years, music has already been a great part of the development of human culture. And from those years, several names of great musicians have already been introduced to the world. In a way, it could be realized that each generation has its own celebrated individual who has been noted for the kind of music he or she introduces to the world. In the 1500s, one of the names that made it to the historical pages of music’s remarkable individuals is Giovanni Gabrieli. This Italian composer and organist have been considered to be among the most influential musicians of his own time.

He is considered to be the epitome of musical intelligence especially in the course of introducing the emergence of the culmination of the Venetian school of music. Establishing his music to be well noted during the shift of the Renaissance towards the Baroque times, the musical presentations and creations of Gabrieli have distinctive identification that characterized how Italian music is currently appreciated by the society. In the discussion that follows, a presentation of important details regarding the past and the works of Gabrieli shall be given way. It shall establish a course of developmental presentation on how a man such as Gabrieli was able to create a turn of situations and provide a more defined characterization of the Italian music during his time which up until now is being used not only in his own country, but around the globe as well.

Early Life

Giovanni Gabrieli was never hungry from musical background. As for a fact, Gabrieli was born to a family in Carnia out of five other children. He was noted to have been able to study with his uncle Andrea Gabrieli who was noted to be a good composer himself. Not so much has been written down about Gabrieli’s past. However, because of the dedication of Giovanni’s 1587 book of concerti, it is assumed that he was brought up by his uncle in Venice. In his dedication of the book, he made mention that he was little less than like a son to his uncle Andrea.

Afterwhich, he was known to have been able to study with the well noted Orlando de Lassus in Munich at the court of Duke Albert V (Arnold, 1980, 54). Giovanni Gabrieli remained in Munich until 1579 and his relationship with Lassus as the protégé was seen to have had a great impact on how he became the musician of his calibre. Lassus largely influenced the musical styles of Giovanni and was rather considered as the foundation of his excellence in music.

After learning from Lassus’ expertise, Gabrieli returned to Venice in 1584 (Arnold, 1980, 67). Upon his return, he took the responsibility of being the principal organist in San Marco di Venezia following the appointment of Claudio Merulo who left the post in 1585 (Arnold, 1980, 72). When his uncle Andrea died the following year, he then took the role of the principal composer. Because of his close relation with his uncle, it could not be denied that Gabrieli thought highly of his uncle’s works. Due to this, as he took over the position and took hold of the old compositions of his uncle, he desired so much to publish them hence pushing him to spend so much time refurnishing each creation and refining each arrangement as he prepares each one for formal publication.

He took another job in Scuola Gande di San Rocco as an organist (Charteris, 1996, 54). Back then, San Rocco was one of the most well defined Venetian confraternities dedicated to the elites and is appreciated by the wealthy society. As for a fact, up to this day, San Rocco and its history continues to be recognized in the face of Italian music’s prestige and grandeur. During the time, the most famous musicians and singers performed in San Rocco’s stage and Gabrieli became one of the most sought after organists in the organization. Being divided between two well-known musical establishments in Italy, it was noted that Gabrieli composed more arrangements for San Marco than he did for San Rocco, although most of his performances in San Rocco were well accepted and appreciated by the public than that of his performances in San Marco. Nevertheless, he equally loved both cradles of his musical excellence (Charteris, 1996, 61). This is the reason why when it comes to the excellence of composition, San Marco has been better known for intellectual musical creations than that of San Rocco and Gabrieli’s contribution on the establishment affects this reputation so much.

Gabrieli’s success was rather marked by his volume of work named as the Sacrae Symphoniae in 1597. This series of arrangements specifically created a name for Gabrieli that musicians from Europe and Germany recognized well. He also had his own pupils to teach during the time and among the conditions of musical learning he was able to bestow them includes the Venetian polychoral style which was the reason why the transition of the Renaissance and Baroque music became evident in Germany early on. In a way, due to the influence of Gabrieli on his students, the German Baroque music has been largely influenced by the music of Venice that originated in the hands of Gabrieli himself.

In 1606, Gabrieli fell seriously that his positions and responsibilities had to be passed on to other musicians during the time. During these years, the ones who took over his position respected his contributions to the Italian music and were then able to create their own arrangements patterned to that of his own creations. Understandably, it could be noticed that the respect that the other composers and organists had on his works pushed for the retention of his music as one of the most important foundations of composition of music both in San Marco and San Rocco. Gabrieli finally gave way to his illness in 1612 and died from kidney stone complications (Charteris, 1996, 68).

Elements of Success

Perseverance and intensive interest in creating music is what made Gabrieli’s musical arrangements exceptional. From his childhood towards his adulthood, it seemed that Gabrieli followed a specific path towards musical excellence. His consideration over the grand gift that he was given to interpret music has led him to the serious acceptance of his roles as a great musician of his time. Learning music is a serious course to take, and like other individuals who are considered great in their own fields. Gabrieli needed to undergo a great deal of training. Even if he had the chance to have a family background support from his uncle, his desire to know more about the musical excellence that he wants to create moved him to search for further support for his own personal development.

Getting the best instruction from the best individuals in the industry has created a great chance for him to develop his own music which later on became the identifying factor that introduced him to the international field of musical development. As of today, even beyond his existence, his music remains respected and repeatedly recognized not only in Italy but in other parts of Europe as well. The complete definition his music is further introduced in the current definition of historical music that basically serves as the basis of what is considered today as good and valuable forms of music.

Works and Achievements

Although there were other forms of general music during his time that acquired much popularity from the society, Gabrieli was noted for his composition of sacred vocal and instrumental arrangements (Kenton, 1967, 34). The subtlety and the solemnity of this particular musical genre made it an interesting factor for Gabrieli to explore. Away from this particular genre of music, Gabrieli never created other musical arrangements (Kenton, 1967, 45). To impose his direct command in his choice of music, he made sure that even though it was not him who made the first version, he made sure that his arrangement would make a name and specifically be well noted and accepted in the music industry.

His noted use of musical dynamics and notated instrumentation specifically made his arrangements unique and definitely affective especially in redefining his course of musical excellence. He is also noted for creating arrangements that involved two facing choir sections that create specific strong effects of musical response between two different arrangements that add in both strong emotion and implicative course of musical excellence into the presentation. The response between the musicians and the singers specifically note a relative characteristic of Gabrieli’s musical arrangements. This arrangement was later on better known as the polychoral style that is used by most choir groups up until the present times of musical presentation.

Personal Reflection

I personally consider the contribution of Gabrieli on the creation of musical arrangements dedicated to choral presentations under the polychoral style to be one of his most remarkable influences in the industry of classical and modern music. Relatively, in a way, this contribution from Gabrieli has taken his name into farther realms of recognition that is still publicly realized and appreciated at present. This contribution has institutionalized his contribution as the foundation of chorale excellence that is not only used in churches for sacred songs, but is also utilized to present chorale song excellence during other important musical presentations.

Conclusion

Giovanni Gabrieli has received his own recognition and established a personal reputation in the field of music not simply because of his desire to do so. It is his perseverance and his dedication to this career that made him a strong foundation of classical and modern musical arrangements. Even though his name was not as known as other musicians who were considered exceptional, it was his character and attitude towards the principles he uphold regarding the creation of his music that made it easier for him to manifest the real meaning of his own arrangements, a matter that is recognized by musical historians to be a strong foundation of how his name is noted in the international music industry today. With his contributions, the birth of chorale excellence has been given way and is now considered as one of the most crucial yet most rewarding forms of musical genres that are used to entertain as well as inspire the human society.

References

Arnold, Denis. (1980). “Giovanni Gabrieli,” in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie. 20 vol. London, Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Charteris, Richard. (1996). 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.

Kenton, Egon. (1967). Life and Works of Giovanni Gabrieli. American Institute of Musicology. Armen Carapetyen Publishing.