Maestro di cappella

During the centuries from about 1500 to 1800, the Italian-language title "maestro di capella", literally "chapel-master," designated a musician in charge of a musical establishment, either in a church or the household of a monarch or nobleman. A great many musicians held this title over the centuries, of whom some prominent examples are given below.

• Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was maestro di cappella first at the ducal court of Mantua (1601-1611), then at the basilica of San Marco in Venice (1613-1643).
• Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757) was maestro di cappella at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome from 1715 to 1719.
• Giacomo Matteo Ignazio Cirri (1711–1787) was maestro di cappella in the Cathedral of Forlì from 1759.
• Giovanni Battista Cirri (1724–1808) was maestro di cappella in the cathedral of Forlì, in Italy: from 1780, with Ignazio Cirri; after his death, alone.

The New Grove narrates how the position was (starting in the 7th century) affliated with religious chapels. The connection to aristocracy emerged as kings and nobles came to maintain private chapels in their palaces. From this stage, the position of maestro di cappella evolved to include the direction of secular music as well.

The position was the same as what in Germany and Austria was called a Kapellmeister; for further details of the role of such musicians, see Kapellmeister.

References

• "Chapel", in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, posted on line as part of Grove Music Online ([1]; fee site). The article is by Adele Poindexter, revised by Barbara H. Haggh.