Frescobaldi, Girolamo

Frescobaldi, Girolamo jērôˈlämō frāskōbälˈdē [key], 1583–1643, Italian organist and composer. He became organist at St. Peter's in Rome in 1608, where huge crowds came during most of his life to hear him play and improvise. From 1628 to 1634 he was organist at the court of the Medici in Florence. Through his pupil Johann Froberger, who carried his style to Germany, Frescobaldi's “noble” style and technique of improvisation influenced German organ style through the time of J. S. Bach. Besides numerous works for organ, he wrote some instrumental and vocal music.

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