Malerba, Michele (EN)

Malerba, Mal’herba, Michele, *2nd half of 16th century Piazza Armerina (Sicily), †after 1631, Italian composer From 1614, he was a Carmelite and maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Catania, Sicily; in 1626–1627, he was maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Caltagirone; from 1627 to 1628 he was maestro di cappella and organist in Piazza Armerina, and from 1629 to 1631 he was the prior of the Carmelite monastery in Licodia. He is the likely author of many secular works, including two books of five-part madrigals. It is believed that before joining the order, Malerba performed under the name Riccardo la Monaca. A composer of that name, also from Piazza Armerina, was a student of P. Vinci and published many works at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Most of Malerba’s motets are adaptations of the Song of Songs. The genre and nature of the text influence the form and size of the pieces. These are sacred miniatures with a clear ABB, ABA structure. Despite the instrumentation suggesting a concertante style, Malerba draws on the bicinium and tricinium traditions; the technique of imitation takes precedence here. Given the formal and textural uniformity, the role of contrast and expression is taken over by metre and melody, with melismas performing important illustrative and expressive functions; selected passages of text are also highlighted through syllabic recitation on a repeated note, but without the use of chordal texture. The frequent use of triple metre corresponds to the poetic mood of the Song of Songs. The collection is dedicated to F.B. Secusio, Bishop of Catania and Patriarch of Constantinople, so it can be assumed that it was created for the needs of the cathedral where Malerba served as maestro di cappella.

Literature: P.E. Carapezza I duo della scuola siciliana, «Musiche Rinascimentali Siciliane» II, Florence 1971; L. Bianconi Sussidi bibliografici per i musicisti siciliani del cinque e seicento, “Rivista Italiana di Musicologia” VII, 1972; L. Buono La cappella musicale del senato di Caltagirone dal 1620 al 1650 in: Musica sacra in Sicilia tra rinascimento e barocco, ed. D. Ficola, Palermo 1988; R. Musumeci Fra Michele Malerba e la sua attività musicale, “Carmelus” XL, 1993.