Credits:

Giulio Prandi

Description:

Niccol Yonmelli (17141774) was born near Naples, where he received his musical education and studied under Durante and others. As a member of the Neapolitan School, he became a leading figure in his twenties and was appointed vice-maestro di cappella at the Papal Chapel in Rome at the age of 35. He subsequently enjoyed a successful career in Vienna, Stuttgart, and northern Italy. By incorporating elements from German-speaking regions and France, he achieved great success with a style that was groundbreaking for its time. The sacred works included here were composed in 1751, during his tenure as Vice-Maestro di Cappella at the Roman Curia. In particular, Dixit Dominus is a major work that includes a Miserere for four voices written for St. Peters Basilica; it represents a departure from the Baroque styleevoking the grandeur of the Neapolitan Baroque, CPE Bachs tempestuous sensibility, and Gluck