Gregorio Allegri

Gregorio Allegri (1582 – 7 February 1652) was an Italian composer and priest of the Roman School of composers. He lived mainly in Rome, where he would later die. He studied music under Giovanni Maria Nanini, the intimate friend of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Being intended for the Church, he obtained a benefice in the cathedral of Fermo. Here he composed a large number of motets and other sacred music, which, being brought to the notice of ... more

Gregorio Allegri (1582 – 7 February 1652) was an Italian composer and priest of the Roman School of composers. He lived mainly in Rome, where he would later die. He studied music under Giovanni Maria Nanini, the intimate friend of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Being intended for the Church, he obtained a benefice in the cathedral of Fermo. Here he composed a large number of motets and other sacred music, which, being brought to the notice of Pope Urban VIII, obtained for him an appointment in the choir of the Sistine Chapel at Rome. He held this from December 1629 until his death. In character, he was regarded as singularly pure and benevolent. Among the musical compositions of Allegri were two volumes of concerti for five voices, published in 1618 and 1619; two volumes of motets for six voices, published in 1621; an edition of four-part sinfonia; five masses, two settings of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, as well as numerous motets which were not published in his lifetime. He was... less