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Portrait of Benedetto Marcello

Benedetto Marcello

Baroque · 1686–1739

Benedetto Marcello was a Venetian nobleman who composed on the side of a full public career. Born in Venice in 1686, he trained in law and spent his life in government service for the Venetian Republic, holding posts as a magistrate and administrator, while writing music as a serious pursuit rather than a trade.

His insider-outsider position gave him a sharp eye. He is remembered almost as much for a book as for his music: a satirical pamphlet mocking the fashionable opera business of his day, skewering vain singers, lazy librettists, and everyone in between. As a composer his major achievement was a huge set of psalm settings for voices, published in the 1720s, which stayed admired long after his death in 1739.

Start with the Estro poetico-armonico, his psalm settings: dignified, expressive vocal music that shows the serious side of a very witty man.

75 works in the catalog, across 4 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

  • Cello Sonata, op. 2, no. 6
  • Cello Sonata in A minor, SF. 751
  • Cello Sonata in C major, SF. 746
  • Cello Sonata in E minor, SF.747
  • Cello Sonata in F major, SF. 748
  • Cello Sonata in G major, op. 1, no. 6
  • Cello Sonata in G minor, SF. 750
  • Recorder Sonata in A minor, SF.774
  • Recorder Sonata in B flat major, SF. 775
  • Recorder Sonata in C major, SF. 759
  • Recorder Sonata in C major, SF. 760
  • Recorder Sonata in D minor, SF. 762
  • Recorder Sonata in E minor, SF. 764
  • Recorder Sonata in F major, op. 2, no. 12
  • Recorder Sonata in F major, SF.765
  • Recorder Sonata in F major, SF. 767
  • Recorder Sonata in G minor, SF. 771
  • Se Morto Me Brami, "Canzone Quarta"
  • Sonata for 2 Cellos and Continuo in A major, SF. 756
  • Sonata for 2 Cellos and Continuo in B flat major, SF.757
  • Sonata for 2 Cellos and Continuo in B flat major, SF. 758
  • Sonata for 2 Cellos and Continuo in C minor, SF. 753
  • Sonata for 2 Cellos and Continuo in G major, SF.755
  • Sonata in F major, for recorder and continuo, SF.765
  • Sonata in G major, for recorder and continuo, SF.768
  • Sonata in G minor, for recorder and continuo, SF.771

Keyboard

  • 12 Harpsichord Sonatas, op. 3
  • Harpsichord Sonata in D minor, SF. 721a
  • Harpsichord Sonata in G minor, SF.736b
  • Harpsichord Sonata in G minor, SF.737b

Orchestral

  • Oboe Concerto in C minor
  • Oboe Concerto in D minor
  • Violin Concerto in E minor, SF.788

Vocal

  • Estro poetico-armonico, psalm settings for vocal soloists and continuo, SF.601-51
  • Abbastanza comprendo il grande eccesso, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Ah, che non può più vivere lontano, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.382
  • Ahi, quanto è fiero e doloroso passo, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.387
  • Al Cielo, occhi simili, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.388
  • Allora io mostrerò le sante vie, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Allora offerte, e giusti voti, cari, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Amai, nol niego una gentil sembianza, cantata for soprano, 2 violins, viola and continuo, SF.22
  • Arianna, serenata for 5 voices, chorus, 2 trumpets, strings, and continuo, SF.493
  • Che fra le iniquitadi io fui formato, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Clemente Iddio di mia salute Autore, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Coll' bissopo m'aspergi e sarò mondo, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Col pensiero vi bacio, vi adoro, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.405
  • Così farai, che s'empia il cor di gioja, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Di tua misericordia apri i telori, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Dove, misera, dove lungi da me, cantata for soprano, 2 violins, viola and continuo, SF.98
  • Dulcis Jesu, Mater cara for 2 voices, violin, and continuo, SF.673 Motet
  • Fonti voi che al mio pianto crescete, cantata for alto, 2 violins, viola and continuo, SF.127
  • Forma un cor che sia puro entro'l mio petto, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Il mio bel foco, cantata for soprano, 2 violins, 2 oboes, continuo, SF.142
  • Il Pianto e il riso delle quattro stagioni, oratorio for 4 voices, strings, and continuo, SF. 693
  • L'immensa tua pietà deb fa che splenda, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Lamento dei castrati Motet
  • Lontananza per me troppo acerba, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.438
  • Ma dolente uno spirto, un cor contrito, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Ma sò ancor' io come veder t'è caro, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Non scacciarmi, o Signor, dalla divina, for alto, tenor and bass
  • O D'immensa pietá fonte inesausto, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Odi, o Troia, cantata for soprano and continuo, SF.240a
  • O fortunato quel fiumicello, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.441a
  • Piagarmi non puó il cor, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.445
  • Quando penso agl'affanni, for alto, 2 violins, viola, and continuo, SF. 276 Cantata
  • Rendi quel gaudio a me, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Requiem Mass for 2 voices, double chorus, 2 violins, viola, and continuo in G minor, SF.660
  • Se di vittime esangui i sagrifici, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Se morto mi brami, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.463
  • Senza gran pena, for voice and orchestra
  • Si mi lavi per sempre e torni all' alma, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Te solo offesi, e in faccia a te peccai, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Torci la faccia tua da'falli miei, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Tu mi sciogli la lingua, for alto, tenor and bass
  • Vaghe calme d'amor, for 2 voices and continuo, SF.474

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