(b Prato, 16/17 Oct 1688; d Santa Catalina, Argentina, 2 Jan 1726). Italian organist and composer. He studied in Italy with Alessandro Scarlatti, Bernardo Pasquini and others, and had two oratorios performed in Rome, where he became organist of the Jesuit church in 1715. In 1716 he published his collection Sonate d′intavolatura, which was widely popular for its charming, tuneful style; it contains both organ and harpsichord pieces. Recruited by the Jesuits for work in the New World, he went to Córdoba in 1717 and studied for the priesthood (but died before ordination). His masses, motets etc were much in demand in South America.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.