Francesco A. Valotti Biography

Vallotti was a composer and theorist who first became a priest, lived in Padua and became the third organist of S. Antonio in 1723. He probably studied with Calegari and acceded to the position of master of the chapel (choir master) in 1730, a position he held for the next fifty years. He led the orchestra whose members included the violinist Tartini and the cellist Vandini. His compositions were primarily sacred vocal works with instrumental accompaniment. The voices were often scored for eight parts and the instruments, which always included sixteen strings and organ, were also scored for winds including oboe, trumpet, bassoon and horn. Tonal harmonies, not modal, scored in Renaissance-like techniques, were contrapuntal in nature. Vallotti’s major contribution to music theory was his “Della scienza teorica e pratica della moderna.” It addressed technical aspects of his theories as well as practical instruction. The individual elements which he discussed included intervals. chord relations, major and minor scales, and the unequal and equal temperament for tuning keyboard instruments.