Bonifacio Graziani : composer of the Roman School (with special reference to two of his masses)

Abstract

"Music during the Baroque period" was one of the subjects l taught during the great part of eleven years that l spent performing teaching duties at the Johann Strauss School of Music in Valletta. It was therefore, with great fervour and much propensity that I applied for the course M.A. in Baroque Studies in August 2002. This also influenced my preference in the choice of subject for my dissertation for the completion of the course; thus the topic had to be related to music. My first title and proposal were too historically oriented and, after consulting Rev. John Azzopardi, as well as my tutor Prof. Mro. Joseph Vella, l decided to take up music editing, and the choice fell on one of the composers of the Roman School, whose music prints can be found at the Museum of the Mdina Cathedral. This music, as well as the manuscripts, is religious in nature, and it discloses the style, way of performance, and the grandeur of baroque music that was destined for ecclesiastical purposes. It also comes directly from the centre where baroque art originated, flourished, and was disseminated to other countries. My choice of composer was Bonifacio Graziani (1604-5, 1664), a follower and close contemporary of the great baroque composer of the Roman school, Giacomo Carissimi (1605-74). Graziani's set of motets for solo voice l his music print fl Il libro de' Motetti a voce sola (1662), as well as his "Missa Angelica a 8" that can be found in his music print II libro delle Messe (1674), interested me particularly because both sets reveal the musical style preferred during the seventeenth century in Malta. For this dissertation l am much indebted to Rev. John Azzopardi as he was an eye-opener during the initial stages of my research, the Rev. Mons. Prof. Dr. Vince Borg, chairman of the Cathedral Museum at Mdina, Rev. Michael Agius, and the staff at the Cathedral, as well as Prof. Mro. Joseph Vella, who was a very patient tutor. I would also like to mention Prof. Denis De Lucca, who was very sympathetic and open-minded when l found myself in tight circumstances. Above all I am greatly indebted to my sister Rita who showed much forbearance and great support, especially during the final stages of this work.