A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Jannaconi, Giuseppe

JANNACONI or JANACCONI, Giuseppe, born, probably in Rome, 1741, learnt music and singing from Rinaldini, G. Carpani and Pisari, under whom, and through the special study of Palestrina, he perfected himself in the methods and traditions of the Roman school. In 1811, on the retirement of Zingarelli, he became Maestro di Capella at S. Peter's, a post which he held during the rest of his life. He died from the effects of an apoplectic stroke, March 16, 1816, and was buried in the church of S. Simone e Giuda. A Requiem by his scholar Basili was sung for him on the 23rd. Baini was his pupil from 1802, and the friendship thus begun lasted till the day of his death. Baini closed his eyes, and all that we know of Janacconi is from his affectionate remembrance as embodied in his great work on Palestrina.—It is strange that one who is said to have been so highly esteemed at home should be so little known abroad. His name does not appear in the Catalogue of the Sacred Harmonic Society, or the Euing Library, Glasgow, and the only published piece of music by him which the writer has been able to find is a motet in the 2nd part of Mr. Hullah's Part Music, 'The voice of joy and health,' adapted from a 'Lætamini in Domino,' the autograph of which, with that of a Kyrie for 2 choirs, formed part of the excellent Library founded by Mr. Hullah for the use of his classes at St. Martin's Hall. This motet may not be more original than the words to which it is set, but it is full of spirit, and vocal to the last degree. Janacconi was a voluminous writer; especially was he noted for his works for 2, 3 and 4 choirs. The catalogue of the Landsberg Library at Rome does not exhibit his name, but Santini's collection of MSS. contained a mass and 4 other pieces, for 4 voices; 14 masses, varying from 8 to 2 voices, some with instruments; 42 psalms, and a quantity of motets and other pieces for service, some with accompaniment, some without, and for various numbers of voices. A MS. volume of 6 masses and a psalm forms No. 1811 in the Fétis library at Brussels; the other pieces named at the foot of Fétis's article in the Biographie seem to have disappeared.

[ G. ]