Natale Monferrato

Natale Monferrato (1603–1685) was an Italian baroque composer. He was a pupil of Giovanni Rovetta, then was a singer at St Mark's Basilica in Venice, and then with the aid of Francesco Cavalli vicemaestro, or maestro di coro (1647–76). On 30 April 1676 he became director, after a competition with Giovanni Legrenzi, another of Rovetta's pupils, and Pietro Andrea Ziani.^[1][2] He was earlier maestro at the Mendicanti.^[3]

Following his death the junior post of maestro di coro fell to Giandomenico Partenio (1685–89), then Antonino Biffi (1699–1730).

Works, editions and recordings

• Edition: Alma redemptoris mater 1962 - 10 pages
• Edition: Natale Monferrato, Complete Masses, edited by Jonathan R. J. Drennan, Recent Researches in the Music of the Baroque Era, vol. 186 (Middleton, Wis.: A-R Editions, 2014)
• Recording: Alma redemptoris mater; Psalm. Carolyn Watkinson, Gonzaga Band, Chandos Classics, 2011.

References

1. Maria Teresa Muraro Studi sul teatro veneto fra Rinascimento ed età barocca 1971 - Natale Monferrato (1603-1685) scolaro di Rovetta, visse a Venezia nell'ambito della Cappella di S. Marco: fu aiuto di F. Cavalli quindi vicemaestro della Cappella (1647), infine (1676) direttore, in concorrenza con Legrenzi e Ziani.
2. Royal Musical Association research chronicle: Volume 37 Royal Musical Association - 2004 "The only other contender was Carlo Grossi (at the time holding a post at the Ospedaletto) whom Sartorio defeated by three votes. The maestro di cappella at that time was Natale Monferrato (1603-1685), who had been elected to the post ..."
3. Venetian instrumental music from Gabrieli to Vivaldi Eleanor Selfridge Field - 1994 Natale Monferrato (1603-85), Legrenzi and Giandomenico Partenio (? — 1701) — all to be maestri di cappella at San Marco — were maestri at the Mendicanti ...