Thematic catalog of Pietro Simone Agostini’s works

Abstract

Known for his mercurial, unstable temperament, Pietro Simone Agostini (Mombaroccio 1630 – Parma 1680) spent his life in Ferrara, where he had to seek refuge after his involvement in a murder, Genoa, where he was chapel master in the Chiesa del Gesù till banned for immorality, and Rome, where he was hosted by Cardinal Flavio Chigi and, by the intercession of Prince Giovanni Battista Pamphilj, got the high-profile position of Sant’Agnese’s chapel master, in Piazza Navona. He spent his final years in Parma servicing Duke Ranuccio ii Farnese, becoming chapel master of the court in September 1679 and of Santa Maria della Steccata’s on October 6.

Agostini’s opus has come to us in manuscript only. A brilliant and prolific composer, he mostly devoted himself to musical theater — four of the six operas he wrote or co-wrote survive in score format — and secular solo chamber cantata. He rarely ventured into sacred oratorio on a Latin or Italian text. Despite spending most of his life working for the musical chapels of major church institutions, his liturgical output is limited.