Milan, 1593 - Milan, 6 Oct 1676

Italian composer.
She was a nun at the Umiliate monastery of S Caterina in Brera, where she was a soprano, organist and music teacher.
According to the house’s necrology, she had learnt music, including composition, at home before professing final vows at S Caterina.
A letter from Sister Angela Flaminia Confaloniera to Archbishop Federigo Borromeo describes her Sacri concerti à 1–5 con salmi e canzoni francesi (published in Milan, probably by Rolla, in 1630) as having originated at S Caterina and as being particularly suited to the needs of other female monastic institutions.
The only known copy of this print was destroyed in the fire at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in 1943; it probably exhibited the simplicity and directness of other Milanese concerto books of Federigo’s tenure.

Bibliography:

Biografia delle monache umiliate di S. Caterina di Brera, anno 1684 Letters between nuns at S Caterina and Federigo Borromeo
U. Saba: Federico Borromeo ed i mistici del suo tempo (Florence, 1933)
R.L. Kendrick: ‘Le sirene celesti’: Generations, Gender and Genres in Seicento Milanese Nuns’ Music (New York U., 1993)
Grove Music Online: www.oxfordmusiconline.com

Author:

Robert L. Kendrick