Gabrieli, Giovanni

celebrated Italian organist, composer, and teacher, nephew of ANDREA GABRIELI; b. Venice, between 1554 and 1557; d. there, Aug. 12, 1612. Gabrieli lived in Munich from 1575 to 1579. In 1584 he was engaged to substitute for CLAUDIO MERULO as first organist at S. Marco in Venice, and in 1585 he was permanently appointed as second organist (his uncle meanwhile took charge of the first organ). He retained this post until his death.

As a composer, Gabrieli stands at the head of the Venetian school. He was probably the first to write vocal works with parts for instrumental groups in various combinations, partly specified, partly left to the conductor. These were used as accompaniment to the vocalists as well as interspersed instrumental sinfonie (Sacrae sympboniae).

Gabrieli is also important because he developed several ideas that were in the air and taught them to his pupils. These included:

Free handling of several choirs in the many-voiced vocal works

"Concerted" solo parts and duets in the few-voiced vocal works

Speech rhythm (following the natural rhythm of speech in creating a rhythmic accompaniment to the lyrics)

Trio-SONATA texture (organizing a piece following the sonata form)

Novel dissonance treatment (introducing new and unusual harmonies)

Root progressions in fifths (harmonies based on a series of root chords harmonized in fifths)

Use of tonal and range levels for structural purposes (taking advantage of an instrument's range and tone in assigning it a specific part)

Coloristic effects (using instruments for specific purposes in the orchestration to underscore an idea expressed in the music)

Through his numerous German pupils (particularly Heinrich Schütz) and other followers, Gabrieli gave new direction to the development of music.

Gabrieli's instrumental music helped to spark the composition of German instrumental ensemble music, which reached its greatest heights in the symphonic and CHAMBER MUSIC works of the CLASSIC masters. Of interest also is the fact that one of his RICERCARI, a four-part work written in 1595, is an early example of the "FUGUE with episodes."

Gabrieli's vocal compositions include sacred CONCERTOS, sacred symphonies, and secular concerted MADRIGALS. His instrumental works include organ intonations, canzonas and SONATAS (both for ensemble with BASSO CONTINUO), TOCCATAS, FANTASIAS, MOTET and sacred symphonic intabulations, and the famous Sonata pian e forte (1597).