composer

Belli, Giulio

Date of birth: c.1560
Date of death: c.1620

Giulio Belli (c.1560-c.1620) was an Italian composer of the Renaissance. He studied with Giovanthomaso Cimello in Naples. In 1569 he returned to his birth place to enter a Franciscan monastery. Most records of his history mention a birth date c. 1560. But he must have been older than nine years to become a monk.
In 1582 he became maestro di cappella in the Imola Cathedral. He had many services in similar functions during his life: Carpi, Bologna, Ferrara (for Alphonso II d’Este), Venice, Montagnana, Ravenna, Reggio, Padua, Assisi.
In his time he was famous as a skilled and honoured composer. One can hear influences of Palestrina, and he had a strong liking for the Venetian polychoral style, as can be seen in this book. Later in his life he composed for smaller ensembles and he often added continuo parts to originally a cappella works. His first publication was in 1586.
He wrote many masses (mostly for 5 voices), motets and psalms. Belli was famous for his sacred works, but he was a gifted madrigalist as well.