A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Turini, Francesco

by Franz Gehring

TURINI, Francesco, learned contrapuntist, born at Prague, 1590, died at Brescia, 1656, son of Gregorio Turini, cornet-player to the Emperor Rudolph II, and author of 'Teutsche Lieder' a 4, in imitation of the Italian Villanelli (Frankfort, 1610). His father dying early, the Emperor took up the young Francesco, had him trained in Venice and Rome, and made him his chamber-organist. Later he became organist of the cathedral at Brescia. He published 'Misse a 4 e 5 voci a Capella,' op. 1 (Gardano); 'Mottetti a voce sola,' for all four kinds of voices; 'Madrigali a 1, 2, e 3, con sonate a 2 e 3'; and 'Motetti commodi.' A canon of his is quoted by Burney, the theme of which—

was a favourite with Handel, who employs it in his Organ Fugue in B♭, and in his Oboe Concerto, No. 2, in the same key. It had been previously borrowed by Thomas Morley, who begins his canzonet, 'Cruel, you pull away too soon your dainty lips,' with the same theme. It is probably founded on the old ecclesiastical phrase with which Palestrina begins his 'Tu es Petrus,' and which was employed by Bach in his well-known Pedal Fugue in E♭, and by Dr. Croft in his Psalm-tune, 'St. Anne's.'

[ F. G. ]