Giovanni Battista Bassani (c. 1650 – 1716) was an
Italian composer, violinist, and organist. He was born
in Padua. It is thought that he studied in Venice under
Daniele Castrovillari and in Ferrara under Giovanni
Legrenzi. Charles Burney and John Hawkins claimed he
taught Arcangelo Corelli, but there is no solid
evidence for this assertion. He was an organist at the
Accademia della Morte in Ferrara from 1667, but had
probably left by 1675. He published his first music in
1677; the title page c...(+)
Giovanni Battista Bassani (c. 1650 – 1716) was an
Italian composer, violinist, and organist. He was born
in Padua. It is thought that he studied in Venice under
Daniele Castrovillari and in Ferrara under Giovanni
Legrenzi. Charles Burney and John Hawkins claimed he
taught Arcangelo Corelli, but there is no solid
evidence for this assertion. He was an organist at the
Accademia della Morte in Ferrara from 1667, but had
probably left by 1675. He published his first music in
1677; the title page calls him maestro of music at the
Confraternità della Morte in Finale Emilia, not far
from Modena. He was maestro di cappella at Duke
Alessandro II della Mirandola's court in 1680, and was
elected principe at the Accademica Filarmonica in
Bologna. He became maestro di cappella at the Accademia
della Morte in Ferrara in 1683, and then maestro di
cappella at Ferrara Cathedral in 1686. For his
contributions to the musical life of Ferrara, he was
often called "Bassani of Ferrara". He wrote 76
liturgically ordered services for use at Ferrara
Cathedral between 1710 and 1712. He became director of
music at Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo in 1712, and
also taught at the Congregazione di Carità in the same
city until his death.
Bassani was a celebrated violinist in his own time, and
his fame was compounded by Burney's praise for him. His
trio sonatas are his best-known and most often
performed pieces in modern times. He wrote 13
oratorios, but only four survive, and all 13 of his
operas have been lost aside from a few arias from Gli
amori alla moda.
The Nunc dimittis, also known as the Song of Simeon or
the Canticle of Simeon, is a canticle taken from the
second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 through
32. Its Latin name comes from its incipit, the opening
words, of the Vulgate translation of the passage,
meaning "Now you dismiss".
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Bassan
i).
Although originally composed for Strings (2 Violins),
Chorus (CATB) & Basso Continuo, I created this
interpretation of the "Nunc Dimittis" ("Now you
dismiss") for Winds (Flute, Oboe & Bassoon) & Strings
(2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
PARTITION