Girolamo Frescobaldi Timeline

Girolamo Frescobaldi 23

1583 Girolamo Frescobaldi born in Ferrara Born in Ferrara in September 1583 and baptised on 13 September, the son of Filippo Frescobaldi, a man of some property who also played the organ.
1595 – 1604 Girolamo Frescobaldi studies with Luzzasco Luzzaschi Trained in Ferrara under Luzzasco Luzzaschi, organist to the Este court, in a city known for its avant-garde madrigals and the experiments of Carlo Gesualdo.
1598 Ferrara passes to the Papal States After Duke Alfonso II dEste died without a legitimate heir, the papacy took Ferrara and the Este court moved to Modena. The musical life that formed Frescobaldi broke up.
1604 Girolamo Frescobaldi joins the Accademia di Santa Cecilia Listed in Rome as organist of the Congregazione e Accademia di Santa Cecilia, his first known post in the city.
1607 Girolamo Frescobaldi organist of Santa Maria in Trastevere Appointed organist of the basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, but held the post only a few months.
1607 – 1608 Girolamo Frescobaldi travels to Flanders Went to Brussels in the household of Guido Bentivoglio, papal nuncio to Flanders, and met the musicians of the Spanish Netherlands.
1608 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes Fantasie a quattro Twelve four-part fantasias printed in Milan, his first collection of keyboard music, dense in counterpoint.
1608 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes his first book of madrigals Il primo libro de madrigali for five voices, printed in Antwerp by Pierre Phalèse during his stay in the Low Countries. It was his first publication.
1608 Girolamo Frescobaldi becomes organist of St Peters Took up the post of organist of the Cappella Giulia at St Peters Basilica in Rome, which he held until his death. Legend tells of a huge crowd at his first performance.
1613 Girolamo Frescobaldi marries Orsola Travaglini Married Orsola Travaglini in Rome. The couple had several children.
1615 Girolamo Frescobaldi at the court of Mantua Briefly took service with Duke Ferdinando Gonzaga in Mantua, but the terms disappointed him and he returned to St Peters within weeks.
1615 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes Recercari et canzoni franzese Ricercars and French-style canzonas for keyboard, published in Rome.
1615 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes Toccate e partite, first book The first book of toccatas and partitas for harpsichord, with a preface on free tempo and expressive playing. Revised and reprinted several times.
1624 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes the first book of capricci Il primo libro di capricci, keyboard pieces built on popular tunes, solmisation themes and bird calls such as the cuckoo.
1627 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes the second book of toccatas Il secondo libro di toccate, with toccatas for organ at the elevation, canzonas, hymns and variations.
1628 – 1634 Girolamo Frescobaldi organist to the Medici in Florence Left Rome for Florence as court organist to Grand Duke Ferdinando II de Medici, on leave from St Peters.
1628 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes his canzoni Il primo libro delle canzoni for one to four instruments and continuo, edited by his pupil Bartolomeo Grassi.
1630 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes Arie musicali Two books of songs for one to three voices, printed in Florence, his main vocal work in the new monodic style.
1634 Girolamo Frescobaldi returns to Rome Back at St Peters under the patronage of the Barberini family, Cardinal Francesco Barberini above all.
1635 Girolamo Frescobaldi publishes Fiori musicali Fiori musicali, three organ masses with toccatas, ricercars and canzonas, printed in Venice. His most influential collection.
1637 – 1641 Girolamo Frescobaldi teaches Johann Jacob Froberger The young German organist Froberger studied with him in Rome and carried his style north of the Alps.
1643 Girolamo Frescobaldi dies in Rome Died in Rome on 1 March 1643 and was buried in the church of Santi Apostoli. His grave has since been lost.
1714 Johann Sebastian Bach copies Fiori musicali In Weimar, Bach made his own copy of Frescobaldis Fiori musicali, a sign of how long the collection stayed a model for organists.