A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Corteccia, Francesco

by Mary Catherine Hamilton

CORTECCIA, Francesco di Bernardo, born early in the 16th century at Arezzo, died in Florence 1571; in 1531 organist of S. Lorenzo in Florence, and in 42 chapel-master to Cosmo I; also a Canon of S. Lorenzo. His compositions include nine pieces for 4, 6, and 8 voices with various instruments, in a rare work called 'Musiche fatte nelle nozze, etc.' (Venice, Gardano, 1533); 'Madrigali a quattro voci,' lib. 1 and 2 (Ib. 1545 and 1547); 'Primo libro de' Madrigali a 5 e 6 voci' (Ib. 1547); 'Responsoria et lectiones hebdomadae sanctae' (Ib. 1570); 'Residuum cantici Zacchariae' (Ib. 1570); and 'Canticorum liber primus' (Ib. 1571), published a few months after his death. A copy of the madrigals is in the Library of Christ Church, Oxford. The Library of S. Lorenzo also contains 32 hymns in 4-part counterpoint. Corteccia, with Striggio, composed music for Cini's intermezzo 'Psichè e l'Amorino,' for the marriage of Francesco de' Medici and Joanna of Austria in 1565.

[ M. C. C. ]