Lucrezia Orsina Vizzana

Lucrezia Orsina Vizzana (also “Lucretia”) (3 July 1590 – 7 May 1662) was an Italian singer, organist, and composer. She entered the Camaldolese convent of Santa Christina in Bologna in 1598. She was taught by her aunt, Camilla Bombacci, who was the convent organist, and by Ottavio Vernizzi, who was the unofficial music master. Vizzana’s works are influenced by stile moderno (seconda prattica) music, especially the works of Claudio Monteverdi. Biography and works Lucrezia Orsina Vizzana was born on July 3, 1590 in Bologna, Italy to Ludovico Vizzana and Isabetta Bombacci. She entered the Camaldolese convent of Santa Christina in 1598 following her mother’s death and adopted the religious name Donna Lucrezia Orsina (or Ursula), where it is believed she learned music from her aunt, Camilla Bombacci, the convent organist, and Ottavio Vernizzi, unofficial music director of the convent. Vizzana’s motets were published in Componimenti musicali de motetti concertati a l e più voci in 1623, the only collection of music ever published by a Bolognese nun. There are ten solo motets, eight duets, one trio, and one quartet all with continuo. The works feature other characteristics of the stile mo