Striggio, Alessandro (1573–1630)

Italian librettist. He wrote the text of Monteverdi's Orfeo and Tirsi e Clori. Like his father, Alessandro Striggio, he also served the Gonzaga family at Mantua.

He was secretary to the Duke of Mantua and a string player at court until 1628.

Striggio, Alessandro (c. 1535–1592)

Italian composer, organist, lutenist, and violist. A nobleman from Mantua, he travelled abroad in a diplomatic capacity, visiting England in 1567. He was celebrated as a composer of madrigals and as a virtuoso player of the lira da gamba and viol. His son, the librettist Alessandro Striggio, was a friend of Monteverdi.

Striggio was in the service of Cosimo de' Medici at Florence 1560–74, collaborating with other composers on contributions to the local intermedi (see intermezzo) for great festivities. His music was admired in Italy and abroad, and in 1568 his 40-part motet, Ecce beatam lucem, was performed at the marriage of Duke Albrecht IV of Bavaria. He subsequently visited several European courts, including that of Ferrara in 1584. He returned to Mantua later that year, to the court of Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga. He published seven books of madrigals (1558–97).

Works Sacred and secular music Masses, motet in 40 parts for voices and instruments; madrigal comedy Il cicalamento delle donne al bucato (1567); intermezzi for performance between the acts of plays; madrigals; various works for voices and instruments in many parts.