Tarquinio Merula (1594 - 1665) was an Italian composer,
organist, and violinist of the early Baroque era.
Although mainly active in Cremona, stylistically he was
a member of the Venetian school. He was one of the most
progressive Italian composers of the early 17th
century, especially in applying newly developed
techniques to sacred music.
He was born in Busseto. He probably received early
musical training in Cremona, where he was first
employed as an organist. In 1616 he took a positio...(+)
Tarquinio Merula (1594 - 1665) was an Italian composer,
organist, and violinist of the early Baroque era.
Although mainly active in Cremona, stylistically he was
a member of the Venetian school. He was one of the most
progressive Italian composers of the early 17th
century, especially in applying newly developed
techniques to sacred music.
He was born in Busseto. He probably received early
musical training in Cremona, where he was first
employed as an organist. In 1616 he took a position as
organist at S Maria Incoronata in Lodi, where he
remained until 1621, at which time he went to Warsaw,
Poland to work as an organist at the court of Sigismund
III Vasa.
A chaconne is a type of musical composition popular in
the baroque era when it was much used as a vehicle for
variation on a repeated short harmonic progression,
often involving a fairly short repetitive bass-line
(ground bass) which offered a compositional outline for
variation, decoration, figuration and melodic
invention. In this it closely resembles the
Passacaglia.
The ground bass, if there is one, may typically descend
stepwise from the tonic to the dominant pitch of the
scale; the harmonies given to the upper parts may
emphasize the circle of fifths or a derivative pattern
thereof.
Although this piece was originally written for baroque
instruments and continuo, I arranged it for Woodwind
Trio (Flute, Oboe & Bassoon).
SHEET MUSIC