A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Otthoboni, Pietro

by William Smyth Rockstro

OTTHOBONI, the Cardinal Pietro, nephew to Pope Alexander VIII, was born in the year 1668, advanced to the Purple in 1690, and afterwards appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Holy See. He was a munificent patron of Art, and a firm friend to all great Artists, whether native or foreign. In proof of this may be cited his patronage of Corelli, and his intimacy with Domenico Scarlatti and Handel, for both of whom he entertained a sincere regard. It was indeed at his suggestion that, during Handel's short residence in Rome, these two great Musicians entered upon the memorable trial of skill, which resulted in a drawn battle upon the Harpsichord, though Scarlatti himself confessed to Handel's great superiority over him upon the Organ.

Cardinal Otthoboni is best known to the present generation of Musicians by his splendid Library. He was an enthusiastic collector of MSS.; and on the dispersion of the Library belonging to the noble house of Altaemps, he was fortunate enough to obtain possession of some priceless treasures which had remained in custody of the family ever since they were first acquired by the Duke Giovanni Angelo in the 16th century. The interest attached to these volumes is no ordinary one. Duke Giovanni Angelo Altaemps was not only the friend of Palestrina, but his pupil also. His Choir ranked next in excellence to that of the Pontifical Chapel; and Palestrina and other great Masters of the age supplied him with a vast number of original works, the greater part of which still remain unedited. Many of these works appear to be hopelessly lost: but two large volumes are still preserved in the Collegio Romano,^[1] and six in the Vatican Library. Those belonging to the College contain eight Motets for four, and nine for eight Voices, by Palestrina, all of which have lately been published for the first time by Messrs. Breitkopf & Härtel, in their complete collection. Those in the Vatican Library contain Masses and other compositions, which for the most part still remain unpublished. These last, now known as the Altaemps-Otthoboni Collection, were the volumes secured by the learned Cardinal, after whose death, in the year 1740, they were purchased and presented to the Vatican Library by Pope Benedict XIV. Their authenticity as faithful copies, made from original MSS. during the lifetime of Palestrina and the other great Masters whose works they contain, is indisputable; and, in common with the volumes in the Collegio Romano, they possess an additional interest from the fact that the Accidentals demanded by the laws of Cantus fictus are supplied in them throughout. [See Music ficta.] It is impossible to ascertain by whose hand those Accidentals were inserted. In all probability they were introduced for the convenience of the Ducal Choir. But it is certain that they date from a time when Cantus fictus was much more generally studied than it is now; and on this account they are invaluable authorities on disputed points.

Cardinal Otthoboni died, as we have said, in 1740. In the March number of the 'Gentleman's Magazine' for that year, the obituary contains the following account of his honours and liberality. 'Cardinal Ottoboni died on Feb. 17, aged 72. He advanced to the Purple at the age of 22. He died possessed of nine Abbeys in the Ecclesiastical States, five in Venice, and three in France, which last only amounted to 56,000 livres per annum. He was Dean of the Sacred College, and, in that quality, Bishop of Velletri and Ostia, Protector of France, Archpriest of S. John Lateran, and Secretary of the Holy Office. He had a particular inclination, when young, to Music, Poetry, and Classical Learning—composing Airs, Operas, and Oratorios. He made the greatest figure of any of the Cardinals; or, indeed, of any other person in Rome, for he had the soul of an Emperor, nor was there any princely notion but what he endeavoured to imitate, entertaining the people with Comedies, Operas, Puppet-shows, Oratorios, Academies, etc. He was magnificent in his alms, feasts, and entertainments at festivals. In the Ecclesiastical Functions he likewise showed great piety and generosity, and his Palace was the refuge of the Poor, as well as the resort of the Virtuosi. In his own Parish, he entertained a physician, surgeon, and apothecary, for the use of all that needed their assistance.'

[ W. S. R. ]

1. Unless they hare fallen into the hands of the present Italian Government.