1684–1755
Francesco Durante, an Italian composer of the Neapolitan school, was born near Naples in 1684 and died in Naples in 1755. He mostly wrote sacred music and was a teacher whose pupils included Pergolesi, Paisiello and Piccinni. Among his keyboard works are 6 sonatas for harpsichord.
Francesco Durante was born on 31 March 1684 in Frattamaggiore. The town lies close to Naples and at that time belonged to the Kingdom of Naples. The composer's life was tied to Naples: he studied there, worked there and died there.
He learned music from his uncle Angelo Durante, who was rector of the Sant'Onofrio conservatory. His next teachers were N. Fago and M. Marchetti.
Among Durante's teachers was Alessandro Scarlatti: at the Sant'Onofrio conservatory Durante became his pupil. Earlier, at the Poveri di Gesu Cristo conservatory, he had lessons with Gaetano Greco.
From 1710 Durante taught at the Sant'Onofrio a Capuana conservatory and later headed conservatories in Naples.
In 1742 he took charge of the Santa Maria di Loreto conservatory in Naples.
Durante was known as a teacher. His pupils are named as Pergolesi, Piccinni, Paisiello, Sacchini, Fenaroli, Duni, Traetta, Guglielmi and Ciampi, as well as Jommelli and Leonardo Vinci.
As a teacher Durante insisted that the rules be followed without question. In this he differed from Scarlatti, who treated each pupil as an individual.
Durante was married three times. He died in Naples in 1755.
Durante is one of the major representatives of the Neapolitan school. His music blends melodic expressiveness with polyphony. He wrote mainly church music and composed no stage works.
His output includes 50 motets, 13 masses, 16 psalms, hymns, antiphons, cantatas and 3 oratorios. Among his best and most important works are the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the Mass in the style of Palestrina, two requiems and the Pastoral Mass for four voices.
Durante also left chamber music: 12 madrigals, 6 sonatas for harpsichord, violin concertos and duets for voice. The site has his Toccate at the level Medium+ for solo piano.