Pietro Lappi

In 1593 Lappi became the master of the chapel for S Maria delle Grazie in Brescia. He maintained this position until his death. The musical pieces that he composed were all for the church whether vocal or instrumental. Lappi made an attempt to keep his compositions in the polyphonic style but only a few (perhaps only one or two of his collections) were composed in the simple melodic/chordal manner. Lappi composed during a period of transition and tried to incorporate the old and the new within the body of his compositions. He would extend himself to compose masses that could be sung with or without organ acompaniment, would switch between solo an tutti parts, and employ more abbreviated notations, rhythmic devices and melismatic solos rather than syllabic arrangements. Lappi was concerned with the conventions and formulations of new musical forms. © Keith Johnson /TiVo