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Antonio Lotti
Composer, born at Venice in 1667; died there, 5 January, 1740 and
studied under Legrenzi, producing an opera, "Il Giustino", in his
sixteenth year. On 31 May, 1692, he was appointed second organist of St.
Mark's, and on 17 August, 1704, he succeeded Spada as first organist. On 2
April, 1736, he was elected maestro di cappella, though Pollarolo,
Porpora, and Porta were formidable rivals for the much-coveted post, with
a salary of 400 ducats. Between the years 1703 and 1730 he composed
numerous masses and motets, especially his "Miserere", which supplanted
the version of Legrenzi and is still sung at St. Mark's on Holy Thursday.
Lotti also composed twenty-seven operas (1693-1717), and he spent two
years at Dresden, producing various works. After his return to Venice, in
November, 1719, he gave up secular writing, and devoted himself solely to
church and chamber music. Had he continued at operatic writing his
financial success would have been considerable, but he preferred his post
as maestro at St. Mark's. One incident in his career was the
controversy over a madrigal which Bononcini claimed and which, it is said,
led to that eminent composer leaving London, but it is now generally
believed that Bononcini was wronged in the matter, as really there was no
need for a man of his powers borrowing from Lotti. Moreover the incident
occurred in 1731, and Bononcini remained in London for over a year
receiving royal patronage. Lotti was an excellent teacher, as is evident
from his many famous pupils,e. g., Marcello, Alberti, Bassani, Gasparini,
an d Galuppi. He was taken seriously ill in 1736, but lingered until 5
January, 1740, and was interred in the church of St. Geminiano. The
monument to his memory was destroyed with the church in 1851.
GROVE, Dict. of Music and Musicians, new ed.
(London, 1906); EITNER, Quellenlexikon (1900-04); BURNEY,
General History of Music (London, 1789).
W. H. GRATTAN-FLOOD.
Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter
Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume
IX
Copyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton Company
Online Edition
Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight
Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1910.
Remy Lafort, Censor
Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of
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