Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni

Background

Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni was born at Rieti on the 18th of March 1657.

Education

At Santi Apostoli he sang and studied counterpoint with Francesco Foggia, where his early compositions were performed.

Career

He became maestro di Cappella, first at Terra di Rotondo and later (1673) at Assisi.

In 1676 he went to Rieti, and in 1677 to Rome, where he held various appointments. Pitoni appears to have devoted himself exclusively to church music, and although he did not disdain the modern style with instrumental accompaniment.

Several volumes of his autograph composition are in the Santini Library at Munster.

Achievements

• He became one of the leading musicians in Rome during the late Baroque era, the first half of the 18th century. He was extremely prolific, with some 325 masses, 800 Psalm settings and 235 motets among the 3500 compositions. He is best known by his Masses and other works in the manner of Palestrina.