Stefano Landi (baptized February 26, 1587 – October 28, 1639) was an Italian composer and teacher of the early Baroque Roman School. He was an influential early composer of opera, and wrote the earliest opera in a historical subject: ''Sant'Alessio (1632).

Life

He was natural around Rome. Inside 1595 he joined the Collegio Germanico around Rome as a son soprano, & he can keep close at hand exposed sustaining Asprilio Pacelli. Landi took minor orders within 1599 and began studying at a Seminario Romano in 1602; but not until 1611 does his name come out as an organist & the singer, though he was already master di cappella at S Maria della Consolazione within 1614. Agostino Agazzari was maestro di cappella'' at a Seminario Romano, & he might keep around been one of Landi's teachers also.

Inside 1618 he had moved northwards of Italy, & published the book of 5-voice madrigals at Venice; apparently he had acquired the post when master di cappella at Padua. Additionally he wrote his number one opera inside Padua, ''La morte 500'Orfeo. Virtually all probably it wwhen utilized as the share of the celebration for a wedding. His case inside Padua & Venice was requirement for getting his style, since there he mass produced call for by using a act of the progressive Venetian School composers, whose music was generally avoided inside conservative Rome.

Within 1620 Landi returned to Rome, in which he spent a rest of his life, where his patrons involved in turn a Borghese family, Cardinal Maurizio of Savoy, and a Barberini family, who were to become his major employers throughout a late 1620s and 1630s, though he joined the apostolic choir around 1629 in half-salary. It was for a Barberini personal that he wrote the operate for which he is best known, Sant'Alessio, around 1632. Throughout this time period he was compositionally prolific, writing masses, arias, and responsories, mostly in the seconda prattica style of a early Baroque, the guide which was controversial using a select few of the extra conservative musicians, world health organization thought the prima prattica'' — a style of Palestrina — more appropriate for sacred music.

When astir 1636 he began suffering ill-health, and he died at Rome around 1639 and was buried at S Maria in Vallicella.

Music and influence

Curiously, Landi's lay music is other conservativist than virtually all of his sacred music, & his number one book of madrigals, for five voices & basso continuo, is almost undistinguishable latest from either several late 16th century collections, except for the basso continuo part. His more laic music consists of strophic airs, arias, & more songs for voice and basso continuo.

Landi's people, of which there come lone ii, are in the elementary, 16th century style encouraged (& occasionally demanded) per Counter-Reformation. Nonetheless he utilizes a Venetian concertato style for some of his motets, when well as his Magnificat and Vespers psalm settings, probably as a result of the years he spent inside northern Italy.

By far his best known composition, & one of a virtually all important operas of the early Baroqueness, is his setting of the life of fifth-century Saint Alexis, ''Il Sant'Alessio.'' Non simply would it exist as the number 1 opera to be write about a historical subject, however it carefully describes the inner life of the saint, & tries psychological characterization of a nature and severity newly to opera. Virtually all of the interspersed mirthful scenes, but, come anachronistically (& uproariously) drawn from either contemporary life inside 17th century Rome.

A a share of Sant'Alessio himself is highly high, & was intended to become sung by the castrato. At a initial performance, half of a singers were from either the apostolic choir, & there were many treble area sung by more castrati. A attendant orchestra is higher-to-date, dispensing by having a archaic viols and utilizing violins, cellos, harps, lutes, theorbos, and harpsichords. A opera includes introductory canzonas which function when overtures; indeed they are a 1st overtures in the history of opera. Dances & risible sections mix by using good arievery bit, recitatives, & possibly a madrigalian lament, for an overall striking kind which was pleasantly effectual, as attested per frequent performances of the opera at the instance. ''Sant'Alessio'' was one of a 1st arranged dramatic works with success to mix two a monodic and polyphonic styles.