Bigaglia, Diogenio: Eight Cantatas, for Alto and Continuo

Composer(s)

Diogenio Bigaglia (b Venice, c1676; d Venice, c1745). Italian composer. He entered the Benedictine monastery of S Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, on 11 March 1694. He became subdeacon in 1698, priest on 22 August 1700 and deacon on 12 June 1704 (or 1706), and in 1713 he was given the priorate of the monastery. Printed librettos indicate that his oratorios were performed in Bologna, Rimini and Faenza as well as Venice, but few copies of his sacred music have come to light. Large liturgical works for soloists and chorus with continuo or orchestral accompaniment indicate considerable skill; many of the solo motets and solo cantatas, written in a progressive style, are also very fine. In some manuscripts he is identified as Padre Benedettino Bigaglia.