Giovanni Rovetta facts for kids

Giovanni Rovetta (born around 1595 or 1597, died 1668) was an Italian Baroque composer. He was a very important music director, known as maestro di capella, at St Mark's Basilica in Venice. This was a famous church with a great musical tradition. Rovetta took over this role after the famous composer Monteverdi and before another well-known composer, Cavalli.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Giovanni Rovetta might have started his musical life as a choirboy at St. Mark's Basilica. His father also played music there. The first official record of him shows that he joined the church's permanent music group, called the capella, in December 1614. He stayed at St. Mark's for his entire career.

Roles at St. Mark's Basilica

Rovetta held many different jobs at St. Mark's. He was a chorister, meaning he sang in the choir. He also played musical instruments and sang as a bass. He worked as a vice-director under the legendary composer Monteverdi. Eventually, in 1664, Rovetta became Monteverdi's successor, taking over as the main music director until he passed away.

Teaching and Other Work

Besides his work at St. Mark's, Rovetta also directed music at the Ospedale dei Derelitti (Ospedaletto) from 1635 to 1647. This was a special place that cared for orphans and also taught them music. Rovetta also taught music to others. Two of his notable students were his nephew, Giovanni Battista Volpe (who was sometimes called Rovettino), and the Venetian composer Giovanni Legrenzi.

Rovetta's Musical Compositions

Giovanni Rovetta wrote a lot of music during his life. His compositions include several books of madrigals, which are vocal pieces usually sung without instruments. He also wrote a great deal of sacred music, which is music for church services.

Types of Sacred Music

His sacred music includes many masses, which are long musical settings of parts of a church service. He also composed psalms and motets. Psalms are songs or poems from the Bible, and motets are short pieces of sacred choral music.

Musical Style and Influence

Rovetta's musical style was clearly influenced by Monteverdi, his teacher and predecessor. However, some of his pieces show his own unique and special talent for creating beautiful melodies. One of his most successful works is a ceremonial mass from 1639. He also wrote collections of instrumental music, such as his Canzoni per sonare, which were pieces meant to be played on instruments.

Opera and Stage Works

Rovetta also tried his hand at opera. He composed one opera called Ercole in Lidia (meaning "Hercules in Lydia") in 1645. This opera was performed at the Teatro Novissimo in Venice, but sadly, the music for it is now lost. He also started another opera project called Argiope in 1649, but he later decided not to finish it.