A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Nanini, Giovanni Bernardino

by William Smyth Rockstro

NANINI,^[1] Giovanni Bernardino, was born, about the middle of the 16th century, at Vallerano, where he studied Counterpoint under his elder brother, Giovanni Maria. Removing, at a later period, to Rome, he held the appointment of Maestro di Cappella, first at the Church of S. Luigi de' Francesi, and afterwards at that of S. Lorenzo in Damaso. Beyond this, little is known of his personal history; though it is certain that he took a prominent part in the management of his brother's Music School,—an institution to which some of the most celebrated Composers of the period were indebted for their early training. The exact date of his death has not been ascertained, and can only be surmised from that of his latest publication, which was printed in 1620.

As a Composer, G. B. Nanini takes rank among the best Masters of his time; but his works are, for the most part, far less characteristic of the true Polyphonic style than those of his brother. He was one of the first who ventured so far to depart from the traditions of the Roman School as to write Church Music with Organ Accompaniment; and his later productions bear evident marks of that 'progress' which ultimately led to its extinction. His published works are, a volume of delightful Madrigals entitled, 'Madrigali, a 5 voci,' Lib. I. (Venice, 1579, 1588, 1598); Idem, Lib. II. (Venice, 1599); Id., Lib. III. (Rome, 1612); 'Mottecta, à i. ii. iii. iv. v. voc. una cum gravi voce ad organi sonum accomodata, Lib. I.' (Roma, 1608); Id., Lib. II. (Rome, 1611); Id., Lib. III. (Rome, 1612); Id., Lib. IV. (Rome, 1618); 'Salmi, à 4 voc. con l'organo' (Rome, 1620); and 'Venite, exultemus Domino, à 3 voc. col' organo' (Assisi, 1620). In addition to these important works, many Madrigals, and other detached compositions, will be found in the collections published by Phalesius, and others, at the beginning of the 17th century: and many more still remain in MS. Of these last, the most important are, some Psalms and Motets for 8 Voices, and a Salve Regina for 12, formerly in the collection of the Abbé Santini; and a Treatise on Counterpoint, written, in conjunction with Giov. Maria, perhaps for the use of the pupils in the Music School. Proske has included four of his Psalms in the 'Musica Divina.'

[ W. S. R. ]

1. Sometimes incorrectly spelled Nanino.