Giorgio Mainerio

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Giorgio Mainerio (c. 1530-1540 - May 3 or 4, 1582) was an Italian musician and composer.

[edit] Biography

Mainerio was born in Parma between 1530 and 1540. His father was possibly of Scottish origin. This hypothesis is based on the fact that Giorgio in his signature used Mayner as family name. During his education he studied also music, but he did not start from the very beginning a musical carrier. In 1560, being a presbyter, he tried to be hired as chaplain and altarista by the church of Santa Maria Annunziata in Udine.

In Udine Mainerio spent ten years (from 1560 up to 1570) and there, thanks to his previous musical knowledge and to the lessons given to him by two local contrapuntists, Gabriele Martinengo (Maestro di cappella from 1562 to 1567) and Ippolito Chiamaterò (Maestro di cappella from 1567 to 1570), he started his musical carrier (which was surely more lucrative for him than the religious one). After the first three years in Udine he began to be interested in occultism (astrology, magic and necromancy) and there were rumours that -together with some women- he was attending night rites. The Inquisition in Aquileia started a preliminary investigation, pursuing a possible trial but, since no further evidence was found, the case was closed. Anyway, also after the end of his problems with the justice, Mainiero had more and more troubles with his colleagues of the Chapter of Udine and, after applying for a position at the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia, he decided to quit partially the job in Udine, motivating his decision with "impellent although honest reasons". He got finally the job in Aquileia and moved there, living not in the centre of the town but in the buildings of the Patriarchate, that lied in a quiet and isolated position.

In 1578 he became Maestro di cappella at the church of S. Chiesa d'Aquilegia. During the last years of his life he had problems with his health, escaping often his duty as master of the church, in favour of travels to Venice, Ancona and thermal baths.

The announcement of his death was given during the meeting of the Chapter which took place on May 4th 1582.

[edit] Works

Mainerio wrote mainly works of Musica Sacra, nevertheless publishing also a collection of popular songs and dances, Il primo libro de' balli.

Il primo libro de balli accomodati per cantar et sonar d'ogni sorte de instromenti di Giorgio Mainerio Parmeggiano Maestro di Capella della S. Chiesa d'Aquilegia was printed by Gardano in Venice in 1578. Before that work, Mainerio had published a book of Magnificat octo tonorum...cum quatuor vocibus containing a Regina coeli printed in Venezia by G. Bariletto in 1574. Later he published other ten Magnificat collected under the title of Sacra cantica Beatissimae M Virg omnitonum sex vocum parium canenda, integrated by a motet (also six-part) named O sacrum convivium: they all were printed in Venezia in 1580 by Angelo Gardano.

[edit] External links