Bonini, Severo

Bonini, Severo, Italian composer, organist, and writer on music; b. Florence, Dec. 23, 1582; d. there, Dec. 5, 1663. He received the habit of the Vallombrosan Benedictines in 1595 and professed in 1598. He then studied theology and other subjects at the Univ. at Passignano; subsequently resided in an abbey in Florence. In 1611 he became organist at the abbey of S. Trinita, and in 1613 he assumed a similar position at S. Mercuriale in Forli. In 1615 he was made camarlingo at the abbey of S. Michele in Forcole, Pistoia, and in 1619 at S. Mercuriale in Forli. In 1623 he became curate at S. Martino in Strada, where he remained until 1637. In 1640 he was named organist and maestro di cappella at S. Trinita, posts he retained until his death. He wrote a valuable treatise on the beginnings of monody and opera, Discorsi e regole sovra la musica et il contrappunto (modern ed. and tr. by M. Bonino, Provo, Utah, 1978).

Works

Madrigali e canzonette spirituali for Voice and Instruments (Florence, 1607); II primo libro delle canzonette affettuose in stile moderno for 4 Voices (Florence, 1608; not extant); II primo libro de’ motetti for 3 Voices, Organ, and Instruments (Venice, 1609); II secondo libro de’ madrigali e motetti for I and 2 Voices and Instruments (Florence, 1609); Lamento d’Arianna in stile recitativo for I and 2 Voices (Venice, 1613); Affetti spirituali for 2 Voices (Venice, 1615); Serena aleste, Motetti for I to 3 Voices (Venice, 1615).

Bibliography

M. Bonino, Don S. B. (1582–1663): His “Discorsi e regole” (diss., Univ. of Southern Calif., 1971).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire