Ziani, Pietro Andrea

About 1630-1711

Composer and organist; born in Venice. He held the position of second organist at San Marco, and later entered the service of Eleanor, wife of Leopold the First, of Austria, where he remained until his death in 1711. His compositions include operas; masses; psalms and oratorios. His nephew, Marco Antonio Ziani, entered the Court service at Vienna a few years before the death of his uncle, and in 1712 became chapelmaster. He was also known as a composer of various operas, serenades and oratorios. He was born in Venice in 1653, and died in Vienna in 1715.