Claudia Sessa

Full biography Claudia Sessa

Claudia Sessa was an Italian composer and singer/instrumentalist who lived during the Renaissance period , born around 1570 and dying sometime between 1617 and 1619. She was a member of the de Sessa family, who were a patrician clan of the Milanese aristocracy. Sessa lived at the convent of S. Maria Annunciata where she was both a singer and composer.

During the Renaissance period, male composers dominated the music scene and musical institutions were exclusive to men. Despite this, Sessa was able to establish herself as a respected composer of religious music. She wrote two sacred pieces which were published in 1613 and were praised for their quality and beauty. The music of Sessa's contemporaries, such as Claudio Monteverdi and Giovanni de Macque, was better known during their time, but Sessa's music has been rediscovered and is now gaining recognition.

Sessa's work reflects the musical style of the late Renaissance, with its characteristic use of polyphonic textures and modal harmonies. Her music was performed by choirs and instrumentalists, and her song "Occhi io vissi di voi" has been recorded and played on guitar by contemporary musicians like Jiji.

Although little is known about Claudia Sessa's life , her contribution to the music world during a difficult time for female composers, marks her as a trailblazer. Her work, and the work of other female composers of the period, such as Maddalena Casulana, Isabella de'Medici, and Vittoria Aleotti, is an important reminder of the vital, yet often overlooked, role that women have played in shaping the history of music.