Giovanni Gabrieli was a profoundly influential Italian composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Born in Venice around 1554/1557, Gabrieli comes from a family steeped in the musical tradition; he was the nephew of the composer Andrea Gabrieli, with whom he studied. He also likely enjoyed a period of study under the renowned Orlando di Lasso. Gabrieli's career is notably tied to the grand Venetian San Marco Basilica, where he served as organist and principal composer for many years. His tenure at San Marco saw the development of a distinctive polychoral style that exploited the basilica's unique acoustics and spatial locations of its choir lofts, leading to a trend known as the Venetian School.

Gabrieli's works, particularly the "Sacrae symphoniae" and "Canzoni et Sonate," were massively influential for the development of instrumental and ensemble music. His innovations in dynamics and orchestration exemplified the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque. Even centuries after his death in 1612, Gabrieli's music remains emblematic of the majestic Venetian sound, with recent releases continuing to explore his contributions to sacred music, keyboard compositions, and seminal pieces for brass ensemble. His influence was international, shaping the course of music through the students he taught, many of whom would spread his innovative techniques across Europe. Gabrieli's legacy persists not only through his compositions but through the very fabric of Western music's evolution in the concert and liturgical settings.

Genres

Classical

Early Music

Italian Renaissance

Renaissance

Latest Release

Donna leggiadra e bella: De floridi virtuosi d’Italia, primo libro a 5

Giovanni Gabrieli•

Roberta Invernizzi

Single - Released June 7, 2024