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Francesco DuranteItalian composer.
Date of Birth: 31.03.1684
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Francesco Durante was born in Fratta Maggiore, near Naples, on March 31, 1684. He received his musical education from his uncle Angelo Durante, the rector of the Conservatory of San Onofrio, and later studied under Nicola Fago, Michele Marchetti, and Alessandro Scarlatti.
Career in Music
In 1710, Durante began teaching at the San Onofrio Conservatory. He held the positions of director of the conservatories Dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo (1728-1738) and Santa Maria di Loreto (1742-1745). His esteemed pupils included Giovanni Pergolesi, Niccolò Piccinni, Antonio Sacchini, Étienne Duny, Tommaso Traetta, Pietro Guglielmi, and Giovanni Paisiello. In 1745, he became director of the San Onofrio Conservatory, a post he held until his death.
Compositions and Legacy
Durante was a prolific composer, specializing primarily in sacred music. His works include 50 motets, 13 masses, cantatas, 16 psalms, hymns, 3 oratorios, and an antiphon. His "Lamentations of Jeremiah" and "Mass in the Style of Palestrina" are widely regarded as his masterpieces. He also composed 12 madrigals, 6 sonatas for harpsichord, and several dramatic works.
Personal Life and Death
Durante married three times and passed away on August 13, 1755, in Naples. He is considered one of the most significant representatives of the Neapolitan school of music, and his compositions blend melodic expressiveness with contrapuntal complexity.
