Historical novelists, take note! The life of Italian-English composer Alfonso Ferrabosco (1543-1588) would make a terrific tale with its mix of music and political intrigue. Ferrabosco moved from Catholic Italy to Anglican England as a young man and served, depending on who is to be believed, as a diplomat, a spy for Queen Elizabeth, or a double agent. He moved to Paris, returned to Italy, was seized by agents of the Pope, and was finally released as a result of high-level negotiations initiated by Catherine de Médécis, ...
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Historical novelists, take note! The life of Italian-English composer Alfonso Ferrabosco (1543-1588) would make a terrific tale with its mix of music and political intrigue. Ferrabosco moved from Catholic Italy to Anglican England as a young man and served, depending on who is to be believed, as a diplomat, a spy for Queen Elizabeth, or a double agent. He moved to Paris, returned to Italy, was seized by agents of the Pope, and was finally released as a result of high-level negotiations initiated by Catherine de Médécis, perhaps at Elizabeth's behest, but died, suddenly, a short time later. Throw in some sexy madrigal lyrics and an invented romance or two, and you've got yourself a bestseller.The musical story is nearly as compelling, for it was Ferrabosco who brought a highly expressive version of mid-century Italian styles to England and thus must be counted as an important contributor to the Elizabethan musical golden age. His sinuous lines and ambitious large-scale designs, which are tonally complex...
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