Aleotti, Raffaella (c. 1570–c. 1646)
Aleotti, Raffaella (c. 1570–c. 1646)
Italian composer. Probably born in 1570; probably died in 1646; daughter of Giovanni Battista (architect to Alphonso II d'Este, duke of Ferrara); elder sister of Vittoria Aleotti; studied harpsichord and composition with Alessandro Milleville and Ercole Pasquini; entered the Augustinian convent of San Vito, Ferrara; wrote some of the earliest Italian music in the concertante style.
After entering the Augustinian convent at a very young age, Raffaella Aleotti took her vows in 1590. She was the elder sister of Vittoria Aleotti , who was also a composer. Raffaella's musical talents were already greatly developed in the flourishing atmosphere of the San Vito, Ferrara, convent. About 1593, she took over the direction of the concerto grande, the convent's main ensemble that consisted of 23 singers and instrumentalists who played the harpsichord, lute, bass viol, flute, cornet, and trombone. In 1598, the ensemble performed in the presence of Pope Clement VIII and the queen of Spain Margaret of Austria (c. 1577–1611) who unsuccessfully urged Aleotti to return to Spain with her. Aleotti probably composed a great deal of music but only her Sacrae cantiones … liber primus for five, seven, eight and ten voices has survived.
John Haag , Associate Professor of History, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia