CARISSIMI, Giacomo

Carissimi is one of the large number of musicians who are reckoned more influential in an educational than in an artistic sense. His development of the recitative and the innovations which he introduced into sacred music place him among the number of great reformers. He educated and influenced a number of eminent composers, among them being A. Scarletti, Buononcini, Cesti, etc. He was one of the first to introduce the string orchestra into the service of the church, and was likewise...