Biography
During his early years Zipoli received instruction from Termini and Beccatelli. He reached Florence in 1707 for lessons with Casini, and the following year an oratorio appeared under their joint names together with Caldara and Gasparini. The year 1709 took him first to Naples for study with A. Scarlatti, then onward to Bologna for work with Vannucci, and ultimately to Rome for instruction from Pasquini. Remaining in the capital, he produced two additional oratorios and, in 1715, assumed the post of organist at the Jesuit church there. In 1716 he entered the Jesuit order; the next year he sailed to Cadiz before continuing to Cordoba to pursue theology and philosophy. His lasting reputation rests on the keyboard anthology issued in 1716 under the title Sonate d'intavolatura. Those pieces combine elegance with sonority. The volume opens with an organ toccata succeeded by versos, elevations, a post-communion, an offertory, and a pastorale. Its second half comprises concise dances, suites, and partitas conceived for the harpsichord. Zipoli demonstrated particular mastery of counterpoint, modulation, melodic invention, and imitation.