Biography
Between 1621 and 1638 Mazzocchi held a post in Rome under Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini, yet his support extended further: Pope Urban VIII also became a patron and bestowed upon him both a lifelong commitment and a benefice. Although he produced at least one opera, Mazzocchi’s chamber works proved most compelling; these compositions combined expressive depth with a fusion of established and emerging techniques. His most refined creations were the vocal settings intended for private gatherings—motets, sonnets, dialogues, and madrigals among them—and he likewise turned his hand to several oratorios.