Giovanni de Macque

Full biography Giovanni de Macque

Giovanni de Macque was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance period. He was born in Flanders, modern-day Belgium, in 1548, and later moved to Italy, where he lived most of his life. Macque was known for his innovative approach to composition, and his music is characterized by its complexity and virtuosity.

Macque's early works were influenced by the Flemish polyphonic style of his homeland, but he soon began to experiment with new musical forms and techniques. He was particularly interested in the use of chromaticism, which was a relatively new technique at the time. His music often features complex harmonies and rhythms, and he was known for his use of unorthodox time signatures.

Macque was also a skilled keyboard player and wrote extensively for the keyboard. Many of his keyboard works are characterized by their virtuosity and difficulty, and they were intended to showcase the performer's technical skills. His keyboard music was highly influential, and it had a profound impact on the development of keyboard music in the Baroque period.

Despite the complexity of his compositions, Macque's music was highly regarded during his lifetime. He was a well-respected composer and performer, and his music was often performed in courts throughout Europe. Today, his music is still performed and recorded, and it remains an important part of the late Renaissance repertoire.