Andrea Gabrieli

Andrea Gabrieli (1532/1533 – August 30, 1585) was an Italian In 1566 Gabrieli was chosen for the post of organist at St. Mark’s, one of the most prestigious musical posts in northern Italy; he retained this position for the rest of his life. Around this time he acquired, and maintained, a reputation as one of the finest current composers. Working in the unique acoustical space of St. Mark’s, he was able to develop his unique, grand ceremonial style, which was enormously influential in the development of the polychoral style and the stile concertato, which partially defined the beginning of the Baroque era in music. His duties at St. Mark’s clearly included composition, for he wrote a great deal of music for ceremonial affairs, some of considerable historical interest. He provided the music for the festivities accompanying the celebration of the victory over the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto (1571); he also composed music for the visit of several princes from Japan (1585). Late in his career he also became famous as a teacher. Prominent among his students were his nephew Giovanni Gabrieli; the music theorist Lodovico Zacconi; Hans Leo Hassler, who carried the concertato style to Ge