Ru
EnS. Petrenko
Fiorenzo Maschera’s instrumental canzonas as a tribute (l’omaggio)
The article examines Fiorenzo Maschera’s instrumental canzonas as tributes, tokens of respect, “l’omaggio”. It attempts to determine the connections between the titles of the pieces in “Libro Primo de Canzoni” and specific people or events. To achieve this, the study outlines key events in the composer’s life, the history of reprints, and manuscript copies of Maschera’s main collection. The research employs a narrative method, comparative-historical textual analysis, as well as cultural and linguistic approaches.
“Libro Primo de Canzoni” by Fiorenzo Maschera is the first collection entirely dedicated to the genre of instrumental canzona. This libro had a long and distinguished history, being republished multiple times from 1582 to 1621 and copied in manuscripts. Many canzonas in the collection bear titles: in the early reprints of 1584 and 1588, there were ten such titled pieces, while in the Venetian edition of 1621, almost all compositions were named (with missing titles added by the publisher Gardano). These titles function as dedications to members of noble Brescian families. The study identifies three types of dedications in Maschera’s ”Libro Primo de Canzoni”. A “classical” dedication of the entire collection is addressed to Antonio Maria Uggero. “Secondary” dedications in Maschera’s book are directed to Camillo Maggio and Paolo Averoldo. The most numerous “hidden” dedications are associated with the family names of various patrons.
In examining the third type of dedications, we conclude that several individuals to whom the omaggio canzonas are dedicated were members of the ”Academy of the Secret” (Accademia degli Occulti). The meaning of four canzona titles from the 1584 edition has been partially clarified. Two additional titles can be explained with reference to Ottavio Rossi’s ”Elogi di Brescia Illustrata” (Praises of Illustrious Brescians). However, identifying precise details about the remaining titles from the 1584 and 1621 editions remains a task for future research.
Key words
Fiorenzo Maschera, ”Libro primo de canzoni da sonare”, instrumental canzone, organ, dedication, omaggio, Accademia degli Occulti, Brescia, Italy, Baroque.
For citation
Petrenko S. Fiorenzo Maschera’s instrumental canzonas as a tribute (l’omaggio). In: South-Russian Musical Anthology. 2025. No. 1. Pp. 50–59.
