Carissimi, Giacomo (1605-1674)

Italian composer. He was chapel master at the church of Sant' Apollinare in Rome, and is famous for his reform of the recitative, and for being practically the inventor of the cantata. He wrote sacred and secular cantatas and motets. His music is distinguished by its pure style and its exquisite melodies, and his followers included the elder Bononcini and Alessandro Scarlatti.

He was born in Marino, near Rome. He was maestro di cappella at Assisi 1628-29 and then went to Rome, where he held a similar post at the church of Sant' Apollinare attached to the German College, 1630-74. He pioneered the use of expressive solo aria as a commentary on the Latin biblical text. He wrote five oratorios, including Jephtha (c. 1650).

Works Masses, motets; Lauda Sion and Nisi Dominus for eight voices; oratorios History of Job, Baltazar, Abraham and Isaac, Jephtha (c. 1650), The Last Judgement, Jonah; sacred cantatas; vocal duets.