Maria Rosa Coccia

Maria Rosa Coccia (4 January 1759 – November 1833) was an Italian harpsichordist and composer. She achieved fame as a child, after composing sonatas and an oratorio that was performed at the Oratory S. Filippo Neri, in defiance of a tradition that women were not allowed to attend the event. After passing the examination for the Roman Accademia di Santa Cecilia, she was admitted to the academy.

Life Maria Rosa Coccia was born in Rome on 4 January 1759 and studied with Sante Pesci. At the age of 13, Coccia composed six sonatas for harpsichord and the oratorio Daniello, which was performed the same year in the Oratory S. Filippo Neri, in defiance of a tradition that women were not allowed to attend the event.

In 1716 Pope Clement XI had decreed that anyone practising music in Rome must enter the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and pass the exam to become Maestro di Capella. At 16 Coccia passed the exam and received the title, but because of her gender was never allowed to execute the duties of the position, though her music was performed. Her examination piece was hic vir despiciens mundum, and was 'widely acclaimed'.

In 1780 Maestro di Cappella Francesco Capalti of attacked Coccia's examination composition and her receipt of the title. She was defended by Michele Mallio in his Elogio storico della signora Maria Rosa Coccia romana (Rome, 1780), containing letters of support from Metastasio, Carlo Broschi and Giovanni Battista Martini. in 1784 published an open letter in defense of Coccia and against criticism of Capalti. The last known work of Coccia's was an 1783 cantata for four voices.

Maria Rosa Coccia died in Rome in November 1833.

Works Selected works include: Six Sonatas for harpsichord Daniello nel lago dei leoni, oratorio in two parts, Rome, Chiesa Nuova, 1772, lost L'isola disabitata (P. Metastasio), 1772, lost Hic vir despiciens mundum, fugue, 4 voices, Rome, 1774 (examination piece for Congregazione di S Cecilia, and Accademia Filarmonica, Bologna) Magnificat, Soprano voice, Contralto voice, organ, 1774 Dixit Dominus, 8 voices, organ, 1775 (may be same as Dixit Dominus, 8 voices, violin, viola, oboe, flute, horn) Il trionfo d'Enea, cantata in two parts, Soprano voice, Soprano voice, Contralto voice, Tenor voice, violin, viola, horn, trumpet, oboe, contrabbasso, basso continuo?1779 Ifigenia, cantata, 2 sopranos, orchestra, 1779, composed for the Princess Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma Arsinoe, cantata, 4 voices, orchestra, 1783 Confitebor, Soprano voice, Soprano voice, organ ‘Qualche lagrime spargete’ from Semiramide, lost Salve Regina, 2 voices, organ, n.d. Veni Creator Spiritus, 4 voices, organ 4 psalms, lost