Carissimi, Giacomo

1604-1674

By some, this composer is called the true father of the modern oratorio, and is credited as one of the most excellent of Italian musicians, who did more than any other man of his epoch to perfect recitative. His biography is obscure. Carissimi was born at Marino, near Rome, and served as chapelmaster at Assisi and of the Church of St. Apollinare at Rome. He educated and had a great influence on several noted composers, among them Scarlatti, Bononcini and Marc Antonio Cesti. Carissimi is the reputed inventor of the cantata, which is borrowed from the opera, but according to most authorities it was not invented by him but first applied, by Carissimi, to religious subjects and by him introduced into the church. He was among the first that introduced the  accompaniment of violins and other instruments with the voices into the service of the churches. Carissimi is reckoned more influential in an educational than in an artistic sense and the innovations which he made in the realm of sacred music and his own development of the recitative, which Peri and Caccini invented, place him among the great reformers of melody and rhythm. Of his works, Jeptha, an oratorio, is considered his masterpiece. It is one of the most finished of his compositions and is adapted to the church service. It consists of recitatives, airs and choruses. Among his other works are the oratorios, Jonah, which is probably the most popular of all; The Last Judgment; Solomon; Job; and Hezekiah; motets; cantatas; and much other sacred music. He left a vast amount of music in manuscript. " Carissimi's cantatas," says one writer, "are remarkable works of the period which produced them and must be regarded as the forerunners of the more magnificent effusions of Handel." Carissimi lived to a ripe old age and died exceedingly rich. Many of his works were lost, for when the order of the Jesuits was abolished the library of the German College was sold. The Paris Library possesses a manuscript with ten oratorios by Carissimi and the library of the Paris Conservatory and the British Museum also possess copies. Some of his works have been reprinted in England, and a collection, almost complete, was made by Dr. Aldrich and is in the library of Christ's Church, Oxford. Specimens of his music are to be found in Stevens' Sacred Music and in Dr. Crotch's selections. By some, Carissimi has been called the greatest of Italian composers between Palestrina and Scarlatti and he is entitled to consideration, at least, as a most gifted and voluminous composer. His oratorio, Jonah, was given in Rome, in 1876, under the direction of Ferdinand Hiller. Jeptha has been given several times in Germany, and in England has appeared upon the programs of concerts of several singing societies. According to some authorities Purcell, partly formed his style on the productions of Carissimi, who also had an influence upon many other composers of greater and lesser talents. Some curious specimens of this composer's works are in Dr. Burney's History of Music.