MUSICORUM AMATOR
A Concert for the Pope Leo X

Summary

There have been among pontiffs of the Early Renaissance some who valued art music for diversity it was able to bring to the routine of a otherwise conservative musical life at the post-Schism papal court in Rome. Among them, Giovanni de Medici, who passed to the history as Pope Leo X (1513-1521), stands out as the one, for whom fine music meant far more than pleasant yet unnecessary glamour. Here is a tribute to the man whose raise to the peak of ecclesiastical power brought about a little Golden Age for a number of musicians (though five centuries later this fact is seldom mentioned outside the scholarly literature). To name but the most fascinating of the documented testimonies of Leo's interest in music would exceed the limitations of this presentation by far. Suffice it to say, that he composed himself (something he probably learned in his youth from the Flemish master Henricus Isaac) and that he would not hesitate to offer the regency of the city of Verucchio (much to distress of its inhabitants) to one of his most treasured musicians, 'an old friend', Gian Maria Alemanni, German lutenist of Jewish descendance, whom Giovanni allegedly saved from death penalty for murder commited back in Florence. Composer Carpentras reports that art music 'drew pious tears' from the Pope. Even 40 years after his death, a chronicler would remember Leo X as a Pope, who 'above all loved the musicians' (Leo decimus musicos in primis amavit). Our conceit for this programme is that one evening Leo's musici segreti are called upon to sing and play for the Pope some of the most delightful music current in Italy in his days.

Repertoire

frottole, madrigals, chansons and instrumental music by Constanzo Festa, Bartolomeo Tromboncino, Alexander Agricola, Josquin des Prez, Johannes Ghiselin, Joanambrosio Dalza, Francesco Canova da Milano and Pope Leo X

Performers

4-5 musicians (1 vocalist, 3-4 instrumentalists)

Most suitable venue

small or medium church or concert hall

Detailed programme can be obtained at the time of programme brochure printing

FEE ON APPLICATION

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IN THE UPPER-RIGHT CORNER: detail from Rafaelle Sanzio's portrait of Leo X (the Pope on the right)