Serafino Razzi Explained

Fra Serafino Razzi (1531-1613), born in Marradi and later residing in Florence, was a notable Italian Dominican friar celebrated for his contributions to music and literature.

In 1563, he unveiled a substantial compilation of carnival songs within the lauda genre, titled Libro primo delle laudi spirituale.^[1] This collection stands as a vibrant mosaic, showcasing pieces of diverse ages and characters drawn from the rich musical landscape of Florence.^[2] Comprising 91 lauda settings for one to four voices, Razzi's work reflects his extensive travels, meticulously chronicled in his diaries.^[3]

Razzi's sister was the sculptor and nun Maria Angelica Razzi.

Works (books)

• Book: 1577. Vite dei santi, e beati cosi uomini, come donne del sacro ordine. it. Florence. Bartolomeo Sermartelli.
• Book: 1590. La vita et institutioni del Giovan. Taulero. Life and Institutions of Johannes Tauler. it. Florence. per Filippo Giunti.
• Book: 1595. La storia di Raugia. it. Lucca. per il Busdrago.
• Book: 1596. Istoria de gli huomini: cosi nelle prelature, come nelle dottrine del sacro ordine de gli predicatori. it. Lucca. per il Busdrago.
• Book: 1599. Giardino d'essempi, ouero Fiori delle vite de' Santi. it. Venice. presso Daniel Zanetti.

Works (music)

• Libro primo delle laudi spirituali (1563), a large collection of carnival songs in the lauda genre. This collection includes 91 lauda settings for one to four voices.
• O dolcezza (date of publication unknown)
• O Giesu dolce (date of publication unknown)
• O Maria diana stella (date of publication unknown)
• O Vergin Santa non m'abbandonare (date of publication unknown)
• Stabat mater dolorosa (date of publication unknown)
• Razzi's music was likely much more extensive than what survives today. His collection "Libro primo" suggests there may have been additional planned volumes that were never published.

External links

• Guide to Razzi, Serafino, Costumi e morte di Papa Alexxandro VI contrario Al P. F : Girolamo Savonarola da Ferrara del ordine de Predicatori. Manuscript, circa 1675 at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center

Notes and References

1. Book: Apel, Willi. Willi Apel. 1969. Harvard dictionary of music. In the second half of the 16th century Fra Serafino Razzi inaugurated a vast literature of laude in the popular styles of the villanella and canzonetta [ex. by G. Animuccia in SchGMB, no. 120]. Frequently, folksongs and dance melodies were used with the religious texts. 464. Harvard University Press.
2. Book: Garriott, Anita. Fra Serafino Razzi and his laude collections of the sixteenth century . 1973.
3. Termoli. 418. Sergio. Sorella. Tra sviluppo e decadenza. 2009 . Donzelli. 9788860363718.