Emilio de' Cavalieri

Emilio de’ Cavalieri (c. 155011 March 1602), or Emilio dei Cavalieri (the spellings “del” and “Cavaliere” are contemporary typographical errors), was an Italian composer, producer, organist, diplomat, choreographer and dancer at the end of the Renaissance era. His work, along with that of other composers active in Rome, Florence and Venice, was critical in defining the beginning of the musical Baroque era. A member of the Roman School of composers, he was an influential early composer of monody, and wrote what is usually considered to be the first oratorio. Life Cavalieri was born in Rome of an aristocratic and musical family. He was the son of Tommaso dei Cavalieri (c. 1509–1587), a close friend of Michelangelo. He probably received his early training there, and was working as an organist and music director in the period from 1578 to 1584. He spent much of his time in Rome as an organiser of Lenten oratorios. While in Rome he became associated with Cardinal Ferdinando I de’ Medici. In 1587, Ferdinando de’ Medici succeeded his brother as Grand Duke of Tuscany, and in 1588 he brought Cavalieri to Florence as an overseer of artists, craftsmen and musicians. Cavalieri was master of ce