A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Porta, Francesco della

PORTA, Francesco della, organist and church composer, born in Milan about 1590, as is conjectured from his having published in 1619 a collection of 'Villanelle a 1, 2, e 3 voci, accommodate per qualsivoglio stromento' (Rome, Robletti). This fact seems to confute Fétis and Mendel, who place his birth in the beginning of the 17th century. His master was Ripalta, organist of Monza, and he became organist and maestro di capella of more than one church in Milan, where he died in 1666. He published Salmi a capella, motets, ricercari, etc.; and was one of the first composers to make practical use of the basso continuo.

[ F. G. ]