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Jacopo (Giacomo) Puccini[1] (Italian: [ˈjaːkopo putˈtʃiːni]; 26 January 1712 – 16 May 1781) was an 18th-century Italian composer who lived and worked primarily in Lucca, Tuscany. He was the first of five generations of composers, the most famous of whom was his great-great-grandson, the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.[2][3]
Puccini studied in Bologna under Giuseppe Carretti, who was maestro di cappella at Bologna's San Petronio Basilica.[4][5] In Bologna Puccini became friends with Padre Martini.[5] After returning to Lucca in 1739, he served as organist in the cathedral and later Maestro di Cappella to the Most Serene Republic.[4] Puccini belonged to the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna and was a skilled teacher.[3]
His musical style incorporated elements of both the Baroque and early Classic periods.[6] Puccini was known as an excellent organist.[4] He wrote many dramatic and sacred works, including a Te Deum for four voices and instruments, a Domine for four voices, masses, and psalm settings.[4][5] Between 1733 and 1780, Puccini wrote 31 servizi ecclesiastici for the annual Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Festa della Esaltazione della Santa Croce).[4][5] Some of Puccini's works, including a processional motet in eight voices, continued to be performed into at least the early 19th Century.[4] A Requiem for eight voices by Puccini was performed at the Vienna Musical Exposition of 1892, together with music by his son Antonio, grandson Domenico, and great-grandson Michele.[7] He was the teacher of opera composer Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi.[8]
Five generations of the Puccini family were composers in Lucca.[2][3][9]
