Francesco Rognoni

Francesco Rognoni
(b ?Milan, 2nd half of 16th century; d ?in or after 1626). Musician and composer, son of (1) Riccardo Rognoni.

Biographical information on him comes principally from his publications. In 1608 he was associated with the Milanese academy of Marco Maria Arese, the dedicatee of his collection of instrumental canzonas of that year. In 1610 he was director of music to the Prince of Masserano, to whom he dedicated a collection of sacred music in that year. In 1613 he was director of instrumental music to the governor of Milan, the dedicatee of his first book of madrigals for five voices of that year, and in 1614 he published there his first violin treatise, Aggiunta del scolaro di violino & altri strumenti, now lost. In 1619 Borsieri mentioned him as a flautist and violinist as well as composer. In 1620 he was maestro di cappella of S Ambrogio. According to his Selva de varii passaggi, he had connections with King Sigismund III of Poland (the dedicatee of the work), and directed the instrumental ensemble of the ducal court at Milan at least between 1620 and 1626. From the collection of masses and motets of 1624, dedicated to Archduke Karl of Austria, we learn that Francesco had been appointed a Papal Knight and hereditary Palatine Count. The inclusion of two of his works in a collection of sacred and instrumental works published in Milan in 1626 indicates that he was still alive in this year.