A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Caraccio, Giovanni
CARACCIO, Giovanni, was born at Bergamo about the middle of the 16th century. He was at first a singer in the private choir of the Elector of Bavaria. Having quitted this service he spent some years at Rome and at Venice, and then returned to his native place, where he was appointed Maestro at the cathedral. He held this post for twenty-three years, when he migrated to Santa Maria Maggiore at Rome, remaining there until his death in 1626. He was one of those fourteen composers of different nations who showed their appreciation of Palestrina's genius by dedicating to him a volume of Psalms to which each had contributed. [ Palestrina.] His published works are:—Magnificat omnitonum, pars 1; Venice 1581. Magnificat omnitonum, pars 2; Venice 1582. Madrigali a 5 voci, lib. 1; Venice 1583. Musica a 5 voci da sonare; id. 1585. Dialogo à 7 voci nel, lib. 1, di Madrigali di Claudio da Correggio; Milan 1588. Madrigali a 5 voci, lib. 2; Venice 1589. Salmi di compieta con le antifone della Vergine, ed otto falsi bordoni a 5 voci; Venice 1591. Salmi a cinque per tutti i vesperi dell' anno, con alcuni hymni, mottetti, e falsi bordoni accommodati ancora a voci di donne; Venice 1593. Madrigali a 5 voci, lib. 4; Venice 1594. Salmi a cinque; Venice 1594. Madrigali a 5 voci, lib. 5; Venice 1597. Canzoni francesci a quattro; Venice 1597. Canzonette a tre; Venice 1598. Madrigali a 5 voci, lib. 6; Venice 1599. Messe per i defonti a quattro e cinque, con motetti; Milan 1611.
Bergameno has inserted some of Caraccio's work in his 'Parnassus musicus Ferdinandaeus,' 2–5 vocum; Venice 1615.