Vecchi, Orazio (Tiberio) (1550–1605)

Italian composer. As well as sacred music, he wrote canzonettes and madrigals, and was celebrated as a composer of entertainments.

Vecchi was born in Modena. He was maestro di cappella at Salò Cathedral from 1581, at Modena from 1584, and at Reggio Emilia in 1586, then became a canon at Correggio and an archdeacon in 1591. Wishing to devote himself to music, he returned to Modena as maestro di cappella in 1593, and then became maestro di cappella at the d'Este court in 1598. He became famous, being summoned to the court of the Emperor Rudolph II at one time and invited to compose music for the king of Poland. In 1604 his pupil Geminiano Capi-Lupi intrigued successfully against him and supplanted him in his post.

His works include L'Amfiparnaso comprising 14 madrigals for five voices, with a dramatic plot set to a commedia dell'arte text. The characters' parts are not acted, but are sung by concerted voices in the madrigal style.

Works Secular and sacred music madrigal comedy L'Amfiparnaso (1597); Masses, motets, Lamentations, and other church music; madrigals, canzonets.