Claudio Merulo


Claudio Merulo was an Italian composer, publisher and organist of the late Renaissance period, most famous for his innovative keyboard music and his ensemble music composed in the Venetian polychoral style. He was born in Correggio and died in Parma. Born Claudio Merlotti, he Latinised his surname when he became famous in Venetian cultural clubs.

Life

Little is known about his early life except that he studied in Correggio with Tuttovale Menon, a famous madrigalist who also worked in the Ferrara court; he also studied with Girolamo Diruta, an organist. It is likely that he studied with Zarlino at St. Mark's in Venice. While in Venice he became close friends with Costanzo Porta, a friendship which was to endure for his entire life. On 21 October 1556, he was appointed organist at Old Cathedral of Brescia, and his skill as an organist must have been impressive, because he became organist at St. Mark's, one of the most prestigious positions for an organist in Italy, in 1557; he was selected over a list of candidates that included Andrea Gabrieli. This was the first important event of his career, and he was considered to be the finest organist in Italy.
It is important to note that in St. Mark's there were two organs, and two separate organists were appointed to play them: in 1557 Merulo was appointed to the second, smaller organ, while Annibale Padovano remained at the post of first organist.
After Padovano's hurried departure from Venice in 1566, Merulo was appointed to the first organ, and Andrea Gabrieli became the second organist. He was appointed as ambassador of Venetian Republic at the marriage of Franceso de’ Medici and Bianca Cappello in 1579 and wrote music of celebration for Henry III of France, who visited Venice in 1574.
In 1584, he suddenly left this position in Venice. The reasons for this are unclear, and somewhat surprising; in Venice he was well-paid, and had a very good reputation; and St. Mark's was one of the most important places for an organist. However, in December 1584 his name appears in payment register of Farnesia Court of Parma.
In 1587 he was appointed as organist in Parma Cathedral and from 1591 also in Church of Santa Maria della Steccata. While here, he requested improvements to the organ, carried out by Costanzo Antegnati, the last heir of the great Brescian family of organ makers. We can deduce that Merulo used the Steccata's organ for his proofs of new composition, based on his Venetian experience, and continued to compose in this style.
He lived in Parma until his death. During this period, he made several trips in Venice and Rome, where he published his famous two volume Toccate per organo.
Merulo died in Parma on 4 May 1604 and was buried in Parma Cathedral near to the tomb of Cipriano de Rore. He left a daughter and his wife Amabilia Banzola.

Music and influence

Merulo is famous for his keyboard music. His Toccatas, in particular, are innovative; he was the first to contrast sections of contrapuntal writing with passageworks; often he inserts sections which could be called ricercars into pieces which otherwise are labelled toccatas or canzonas.. Often his keyboard pieces begin as though they are to be a transcription of vocal polyphony, but then gradually add embellishment and elaboration until they reach a climactic passage of considerable virtuosity. Sometimes, especially in his later music, he develops ornaments which acquire the status of a motif, which is then used developmentally; this anticipates a principal generative technique in the Baroque era. Often Merulo casually ignores the "rules" of voice-leading, giving the music an expressive intensity more associated with the late school of madrigalists than with keyboard music of the time. His keyboard music was hugely influential, and his ideas can be seen in the music of Sweelinck, Frescobaldi and others; because of the immense influence of Sweelinck as a teacher, much of the virtuoso keyboard technique of the north German organ school, culminating in Johann Sebastian Bach, can claim to be descended from the innovations of Merulo.
Even though the fame of his instrumental music has overshadowed much of his a cappella vocal output, Merulo was also a madrigalist. Since he was a member of what is known today as the Venetian School, he also wrote motets for double choir in the manner of Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli. He published two books of Madrigali a 5 voices, one of Madrigali a 4 and a 3.
The famous essay of keyboard technique Il Transilvano, by Girolamo Diruta, was dedicated to Merulo, indicating his status as one of the most important keyboard players of the Italian Renaissance.

Works

Ricercari d’Intavolatura d’Organo, Libro primo :
  1. Ricercar del primo tuono
  2. Ricercar del secondo tuono
  3. Ricercar del terzo tuono
  4. Ricercar del quarto tuono
  5. Ricercar dell’undecimo tuno
  6. Ricercar del duodecimo tuono
  7. Ricercar del settimo tuono
  8. Ricercar dell’ottavo tuonoToccata del terzo tuono from Il Transilvano, part I, by Diruta Toccate d’Intavolatura d’Organo, Book 1 :
  9. Primo Tuono Toccata prima
  10. Primo Tuono Toccata seconda
  11. Secondo Tuono Toccata terza
  12. Secondo Tuono Toccata quarta
  13. Secondo Tuono Toccata quinta
  14. Terzo Tuono Toccata sesta
  15. Terzo Tuono Toccata settima
  16. Quarto Tuono Toccata ottava
  17. Quarto Tuono Toccata nonaToccate d’Intavolatura d’Organo, Book 2 :
  18. Undecimo detto Quinto Tuono Toccata prima
  19. Undecimo detto Quinto Tuono Toccata seconda
  20. Duodecimo detto Sesto Tuono Toccata terza
  21. Duodecimo detto Sesto Tuono Toccata quarta
  22. Settimo Tuono Toccata quinta
  23. Settimo Tuono Toccata sesta
  24. Ottavo Tuono Toccata settima
  25. Ottavo Tuono Toccata ottava
  26. Nono Tuono Toccata nona
  27. Decimo Tuono Toccata decimaCanzoni d’Intavolatura d’Organo, a quattro voci, fatte alla francese, Book 1 :
  28. La Bovia
  29. La Zambeccara
  30. La Gratiosa
  31. La Cortese
  32. La Benvenuta
  33. La Leonora
  34. L’Albergata
  35. La Rolanda
  36. Petit JacquetCanzoni d'intavolatura d'organo fatte alla francese, Book 2:
  37. La Ironica
  38. La Jolette
  39. La Pazza
  40. La Palma
  41. La Pargoletta
  42. La Rosa
  43. La Radivila
  44. La Seula
  45. La Scarampa
  46. L'Arconadia
  47. Petite Camusette Canzoni d'intavolatura d'organo fatte alla francese, Book 3:
  48. Languissans
  49. Onques amour
  50. Susanne un jour
  51. Content
  • Madrigali a 5 libro I e II
  • Madrigali a 4
  • Madrigali a 3 Mottetti a 5 libro I, II
  • Mottetti a 6 libro I, II e III
  • Sacrae Cantiones
  • Mottetti a 4
  • Sacri Concentus
  • ''Messe a 5''