Giovanni Artusi

Full biography Giovanni Artusi

Giovanni Artusi was an Italian composer and music theoretician who was born in Bologna, Italy in 1540. He was known for his critical writings about other composers of the time, particularly Claudio Monteverdi.

Artusi's most famous work is "L'Artusi, overo delle imperfettioni della moderna musica," which translates to "The Imperfections of Modern Music." It was a critique of Monteverdi's work, in particular his use of dissonance and unconventional melodies.

Artusi's criticism was controversial, and Monteverdi even responded to it in his own work, "Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda." This back-and-forth between the two composers is often referred to as the "Artusi-Monteverdi controversy."

Despite his reputation as a harsh critic, Artusi did publish some of his own music, including a collection of madrigals. He was highly respected as a music theorist and his work helped to pave the way for the new Baroque style that emerged in the early 17th century.

Giovanni Artusi passed away in 1613, but his contributions to music theory and his critique of contemporary music continue to be studied and appreciated by musicians and scholars to this day.