Predieri

Predieri , family of Italian musicians:

(1) Giacomo (Maria) Predieri , organist, cornet player, and composer; b. Bologna, April 9, 1611; d. there, 1695. He was active as a cornett player in Bologna’s municipal instrumental ensemble, and also a singer at S. Petronio (1636–57), where he was vice-maestro di cappella (1650–57). He was organist at the cathedral of S. Pietro (1679–93). He was a founding member of the Accademia Filarmonica (1666), and in 1693 was made its principe. He had 2 nephews who studied with him and pursued careers in music:

(2) Antonio Predieri , singer; b. Bologna, c. 1650; d. there, 1710. He began his career as a tenor in F. Bassani’s L’inganno trionfato (1673), and then sang opera in various Italian cities. He was in the service of the dukes of Mantua (1684–87) and Parma (1687–99?), and also sang at the church of the Steccata in Parma (1689–96). He was made a member of Bologna’s Accademia Filarmonica in 1689–96).

(3) Giacomo Cesare Predieri , singer and composer; b. Bologna, March 26, 1671; d. there, 1753. He studied with G.P. Colonna, becoming a member of Bologna’s Accademia Filarmonica as a singer in 1688, being promoted to composer in 1690; also served as its principe (1698, 1707, 1711). He was maestro di cappella at the cathedral of S. Pietro (1696–1742). He wrote many sacred works, including 11 oratorios (only 1 extant). He had a nephew who was also a musician:

(4) Luca Antonio Predieri , violinist and composer; b. Bologna, Sept. 13, 1688; d. there, 1767. He studied violin with Abondio Bini and Tommaso Vitali, and counterpoint with his uncle, as well as with Angelo Predieri (b. Bologna, Jan. 14, 1655; d. there, Feb. 27, 1731), the singer and composer, and Giacomo Antonio Perti. He was an instrumentalist at the church of S. Petronio. He became a member of the Accademia Filarmonica with the rank of composer (1716), serving as its principe (1723); was maestro di cappella at S. Paolo (1725–29), Madonna della Galliera (1726), Arciconfraternitaàdella Vita (1727), and the cathedral of S. Pietro (1728–31). He went to Vienna (1737), where he served as vice-maestro (1739–41) and maestro (1741–51) at the court chapel; returned to Bologna (1765). He wrote 31 operas, of which the following are extant: Gli auguri spiegati (Laxenburg, May 3, 1738), La pace tra la virtù e la bellezza (Vienna, Oct. 15, 1738), Perseo (Vienna, Nov. 4, 1738), Astrea placata, ossia La felicità della terra (Vienna, Aug. 28, 1739), and Zenobia (Vienna, Aug. 28, 1740). He distinguished himself as a composer of sacred music; of his 7 oratorios, only Il sacrificio d’Abramo (Vienna, 1738) and Isacco figura del Redentore (Vienna, Feb. 12, 1740) are extant. Other extant works include masses and Mass movements, antiphons, litanies, Psalms, motets, a Stabat Mater, cantatas, and a Sinfonia.

Bibliography

R. Ortner, L.A. P. und sein Wimer Opernschaffen (Vienna, 1971).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire