Bossi, Marco Enrico (1861-1925)

Italian organist and composer. He held various directorial posts, including that of the Royal Liceo of Santa Cecilia, Rome, 1916-23. His works include the Canticum Canticorum (biblical cantata, 1900), Il paradiso perduto (oratorio after John Milton, 1903), Il cieco (symphonic poem with voices), and church and organ music.

He studied at the Liceo Musicale of Bologna and at the Milan Conservatory. After various organist and teaching appointments he became director of the principal music schools at Venice, Bologna, and Rome in succession. Meanwhile he had become very famous as a concert organist. He died while returning from a tour in the USA.

Works Opera Paquita (1881), Il veggente (1890), and L'angelo della notte.

Choral oratorios Il Paradiso perduto (after Milton) and Giovanna d'Arco (1914); Masses, motets, and sacred cantatas; secular choral works with orchestra or Organ, including Il cieco, Inno di gloria, and Cantico dei cantici (1900).

Orchestral and chamber orchestral works; concerto for organ and orchestra; chamber music, 50 organ works, including suite Res severa magnum gaudium; piano pieces; songs.