Andrea Gabrieli
Recent research places Andrea Gabrieli’s birth in Venice around 1532. He was very much a Venetian and was a major influence in the ascendancy of Venice as the center of European music by 1600. In the early 1560s Gabrieli spent time in Germany especially at the Court of Albrecht V of Bavaria, where he absorbed much of the style and technique of the maestro there, Orlandus Lassus. In 1566 Andrea Gabrieli was successful in competing for the post of 2nd organist at the Cathedral of San Marco, Venice, with virtuoso Claudio Merulo holding 1st organ position.
Andrea Gabrieli was an extremely prolific composer writing motets and mass settings for San Marco and the city state of Venice, he also wrote over 300 secular vocal works. He established the forms of ricercar and canzona for both instrumental ensemble and keyboard. Most of his pieces were written for more than 4 voices/instruments and he established the practice of ‘cori spezzati’ with as many as 4 choirs of voices and instruments performing in the balconies of San Marco.
By the 1580s musicians were coming to Venice from all over Europe to study with Gabrieli, one of the most notable being Hans Leo Hassler from Germany; one of his students was his nephew, Giovanni Gabrieli, who eventually became an even more famous leader of the Venetian School centered at San Marco.
Andrea managed to accomplish all this in 52 years, dying in 1585. Perhaps the most important publication of his music came after his death when Angelo Gardano printed ‘Concerti’ in 1587, which contains works by both Andrea and Giovanni. The articles in the ‘New Grove’ by Denis and Elsie M. Arnold on both Gabrielis are a most valuable resource.
Magnificat a12
This “Magnificat a12” is contained in the ‘Concerti di Andrea et di Gio. Gabrieli,’ published in Venezia by Angelo Gardano in 1587. It is an example of the chori spezzati (separated choirs) used in the balconies of Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. Three choirs a4 are employed here.
Andrea Gabrieli 'Magnificat a12'
Magnificat anima mea Dominum; et
exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari
meo, quia respexit humilitatem
ancillae suae; Ecce enim ex hoc
beatam me dicent omnes
generationes. Quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius.
Et misericordia eius a progenie in
progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo;
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit
humiles; esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiae suae,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto,
sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et
semper: et in Saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour. For he hath regarded: the
lowliness of his handmaiden: For
behold, from henceforth:
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified
me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him:
throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from
their seat: and hath exalted the humble
and meek. He hath filled the hungry
with good things: and the rich he hath
sent empty away. He remembering his
mercy hath holpen his servant Israel:
As he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost; As it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be: world without end. Amen.
Ricercar
Andrea Gabrieli "Ricercar"
Vita de la mia vita
This madrigal for 5 voices was first published in ‘Il terzo libro de madrigali a 5 voci’ in 1589 by the Gardano Press in Venice. The book was prepared by Andrea’s nephew, Giovanni, and includes 6 of Giovanni’s madrigals making 22 in all.
Andrea Gabrieli "Vita de la mia vita"
Vita della mia vita,
Avete pur gran torto
A non mi dar aita,
Poi che son quasi morto;
Se pur volete al fin, Donna, che io mora,
Lasciate l’alma mia, che in voi dimora.
Life of my life,
you do me great wrong
not helping me,
since I am like as one dead;
If you wish at last, Lady, that I die,
Free my soul, that dwells within you.