Ottaviano Petrucci facts for kids
Ottaviano Petrucci (born in Fossombrone on 18 June 1466 – died on 7 May 1539 in Venice) was an important Italian printer. He is famous for printing music. His book, Harmonice Musices Odhecaton, was a collection of songs printed in 1501. Many people think it was the very first book of sheet music printed with a movable type machine. However, the first was actually Missale Romanum by Ulrich Han in 1476.
Even so, Petrucci's work was amazing. He printed the first book of polyphony (music with many voices or parts) using movable type. He also published many works by famous composers of the Renaissance period. These included Josquin des Prez and Antoine Brumel.
Life of a Music Printer
Ottaviano Petrucci was born in Fossombrone, Italy. He probably studied in Urbino. Around 1490, he moved to Venice to learn how to print. In 1498, he asked the leader of Venice, the Doge, for a special right. He wanted to be the only person allowed to print music for the next 20 years. He likely got this right. No other printed music from Venice is known before 1520.
In 1501, Petrucci printed his first music book. It was called Harmonice musices odhecaton A. This book had 96 songs and was the earliest known example of printed polyphonic music. For several years, he kept improving his printing methods. He made new editions and reprints often.
His work stopped in 1509 because of a war. This was the war of the League of Cambrai against Venice. Petrucci left Venice and went back to Fossombrone. There, he continued his printing work.
Fossombrone was in the Pope's lands. So, Petrucci asked the Pope for the only right to print music there. He got it for a few years. But the Pope later took this right away. Petrucci had not printed any music for keyboard instruments. Another printer in Rome got the right instead. In 1516, soldiers attacked Fossombrone. Petrucci did not print anything for three years. His printing machines were likely destroyed.
Later, in 1520, Andrea Antico took over Petrucci's printing business in Venice. During the 1520s, Petrucci probably made money by running a paper mill. In 1536, he returned to Venice. He helped the city print Greek and Latin books.
Petrucci's Printing Method
Petrucci was not the first person to print music in Europe. Some religious books with music were printed before 1500. The Constance Gradual was printed around 1473. Books using movable type, like Ulrich Han's Missale Romanum, started in 1476.
However, Petrucci was the first to print a lot of music. He was also the first to print polyphony (music with multiple parts). The quality of his printed music was excellent.
Petrucci's printing method was special. He printed each sheet of music three times. First, he printed the music staves (the lines the notes sit on). Then, he printed the music notes. Finally, he printed the words. Petrucci was very good at this. His books were accurate and beautiful.
Other printers using this method sometimes made mistakes. Notes could be printed in the wrong place. This made the music hard to read and play. Later, in 1528, Pierre Attaignant developed a new method. He printed everything in just one go. This single-impression method became very popular.
The printing of music changed everything. It helped create the first truly international music style. This had not happened since Gregorian Chant in the 9th century. Printed music traveled all over Europe. Composers from the Franco-Flemish School moved from their homes to Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland. The polyphonic style they used became a common language for music.
See also
- International Music Score Library Project
- List of publications by Ottaviano Petrucci
