| “Giacomo Carissimi, son of Amico, was born in Marino, and having learned the musical arts in his early years was in the service of Getulio Nardini vicar Apostolic to Assisi, who when a vacancy arose in the cappella of that city’s cathedral saw to it that Giacomo was made maestro di cappella of same; in 1628, whilst still a young man, he went to Rome to occupy the same post at the church of Sant’Apollinare, which he held for forty-four years.He bequeathed his musical works to the German College of said church, or cappella, where they are presently held.He was a very fine composer of musical harmony, and excelled not only in religious compositions but also in those for chamber and theatre, as in the plays that are to be found as above.He had an extremely natural and sober compositional style that was much celebrated and very pleasing to the taste of the times.The Emperor requested his services, but in this he modestly demurred. His domestic arrangements were very moderate and his dealings with friends and strangers were of the utmost rectitude.He lived to be more than seventy years old and died 12th January 1674 as a result of an attack of gout, and is buried in the church of Sant’Apollinare.He was tall and slender and inclined to melancholy.His portrait is kept at the above mentioned college.” |
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