Pietro Ziani

(b Venice, ?before 21 Dec 1616; d Naples, 12 Feb 1684). Italian composer and organist. He was organist at SSalvatore, Venice, and was active as an opera composer from 1654. He was maestro di cappella at S Maria Maggiore, Bergamo, 1657-9; in 1662 he became vice-Kapellmeister to the Dowager Empress Eleonora in Vienna, where like Cesti he was a leading champion of opera. In 1669-77 he served as first organist of St Mark's, Venice, succeeding Cavalli. He then became honorary court organist in Naples, and in 1680 maestro di cappella . Ziani's c 20 operas reflect the trend towards the use of purely musical forms and have strong comic elements. He also wrote several oratorios (notable for their counterpoint), sacred and secular vocal music and sonatas.

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• Period: Baroque (1600-1749)
• Country: Italy
• Born: December 21, 1616 in Venice, Italy
• Died: February 12, 1684 in Naples, Italy

Biography

In addition to holding numerous posts as organist, Pietro Andrea Ziani composed various works throughout his lifetime, including 23 operas, three oratorios, masses, psalms, overtures, organ pieces, and several three- to six-part instrumental sonatas. It was approximately 1640, while he was canon regular and organist at San Salvatore, Venice, that he became a deacon and took holy orders. His posts include maestro di cappella at San Maira Maggiore (1657 - 1659), vice Kapellmeister to Empress Eleonora, organist at St. Marks (1669), teacher at Conservatorio San Onofrio, and organist and maestro di cappella (1680 - 1684) at the Naples court. His operas, which bore slight resemblances to his oratorios, were characterized by their simple structure and were a mixture of farcical and serious material. His ability to compose operas well was widely recognized in 1654 with his presentation of La guerriera spartana. His other well-known works include Le fortune di Rodope e di Damira (1657), L'Antigona delusa da Alceste (1660), La congiura del vizio contra la virtù (1663), and La circe (1665). Compositions of this type were shown at numerous venues, including Teatro San Apollinare and Teatro San Cassiano. His Sonata in G minor No. 11 and Sonata in D minor No. 12 were recorded for Vanguard Classics in 1999. ~ Meredith Gailey, All Music Guide

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