composer

Allegri, Gregorio

Date of birth: ca. 1585

Gregorio Allegri was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque period. He was born in 1585 in Rome, although some sources give other years of birth. He was entrusted by his father to the school of S. Luigi de’ Francesi, where he was “putto cantore” (boy singer) until he was 14. He was a pupil of the two brothers Nanino, and especially favoured by Giovanni Maria Nanino. His co-disciples were Paolo Agostini, Antonio Cifra and Pier Francesco Valentini. After his voice broke he became a tenor. In 1607 Allegri was called to succeed Florio Zaccardi as chapel master at the metropolitan church of Fermo. Since those days there are no records of his career. Probably because he took vows and became a priest. For a short time he was a canon in this church, but due to several abstentions from his duties he was removed from this post. He stayed present as a simple prebend, and in 1612 he was reinstalled as maestro di cappella. Allegri left Fermo in 1628 and became maestro in Rome at the S. Spirito in Saxia. As a composer he wrote several books with sacred music.

Cees Wagemakers, 2023.