Teofilo Macchetti

Teofilo Macchetti (Venice, March 3, 1632 – Pisa, 1714) was an Italian composer and music theorist.

Life Macchetti studied music in Venice and joined the Benedictine Order, which assigned him to the monastery in Rovigo as solicitor in 1669. He stayed in Rovigo until 1674, but his interest for history and music caused him to travel for research to Venice (in 1672 and in 1673) and to Rome, where he stayed for four years (from 1675 to 1679). After that he made stops in Loreto and Spoleto, and then settled in Pisa, where he became Chapel Master of the Duomo in 1681. While working, Macchetti kept a detailed diary, entitled Conti di musiche (translated as Tales of Music, or Musical Tales, or Tales from Music), which is preserved today in the Biblioteca Universitaria of Pisa. From the notes in his diary, precious information regarding the musical activity of a 1600-1700 chapel can be understood. Macchetti describes his duties, the music that was performed, and his academic activity in minute detail. In addition, he documented many distinctive traits of the music performed at that time.

Curiosità musicali His interest for antique music is gathered in Curiosità musicali (translated as Musical Curiosity, or Music Trivia) which dates back to beginning in 1711 and is preserved today in the Biblioteca Universitaria of Pisa. in which he recognizes Curiosità musicali as its essential foundation.

Works In Conti di musiche, Macchetti describes the performances of many of his works, but it seems today that only two compositions remain: Sacri concerti di salmi, printed in Bologna in 1687 (samples of this print are found at the Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica of Bologna and at the Biblioteca Diocesana of Lucca), and the Responsori della liturgia dei defunti.