Marcello, Benedetto (1686–1739)

Italian violinist, composer, and author. His masterpiece is the Estro poetico-armonico 1724–26, a musical setting of the first 50 psalms as paraphrased into Italian by Girolamo Giustiniani. As well as composing, he wrote the libretto for Giovanni Maria Ruggieri's (fl. 1690–1720) opera Arato in Sparta, and in 1720 published the important satire on contemporary opera Il teatro alla moda.

He was born at Venice. A pupil of Gasparini and Lotti, he combined his musical interests with a career in law and the civil service. He also wrote canzoni in the madrigal style, instrumental concertos, an oratorio, and an opera. His brother Alessandro (1669–1747) wrote cantatas and concertos.

Works Operas and serenatas La fede riconosciuta, Arianna, and others.

Oratorio Il pianto e il riso delle quattro stagioni (1731), Giuditta, Gioaz (1726), Il trionfo della poesia e della musica (1733).

Other Masses, Misereres, and other church music; Estro poetico-armonico, settings of 50 psalm-paraphrases by G A Giustiniani; concertos, sonatas for various instruments.