Porta Ercole, Hercole, *10 September 1585 Bologna, †30 April 1630 Carpi, Italian composer and organist. He probably studied in Bologna. In 1609, he was an organist, and from 1612 to 1620, he served as maestro di cappella in San Giovanni in Persiceto (near Bologna). From January 1622, he held the position of maestro di cappella at Carpi Cathedral, which he left in July 1625 due to clashes with his superiors, and was briefly an organist in nearby Rubiera. From 1628 until his death, he again led the cathedral chapel in Carpi.
Porta was one of the first Bolognese composers to write sacred music in the stile moderno. His monodies draw on the experiences of Lodovico da Viadana. Greater individual characteristics are displayed by the concertato works for various vocal-instrumental ensembles, in which he skilfully employs contrasts of texture, timbre, and dynamics, introduces independent instrumental parts, ornamental vocalises, and unconventional harmonic devices.
Vocal and vocal-instrumental:
Giardino di spirituali concerti for 2–4 voices and b.c., published in Venice 1609
Hore di recreatione for 12 voice and b.c., published in Venice 1612
Vaga ghirlanda di soavi et odorati fiori musicali for 1–5 voices and b.c., published in Bologna 1613
Sacro convito musicale for 1–6 voices, 2 violins, 3 trobones and b.c., published in Venice 1620
Complectorium laetum for 5 voices and b.c., published in Venice 1626
8 motets in anthologies from 1613–27
lost, including:
Concerti for 1–4 voices and b.c., published in Venice 1619
Madrigali 3-głosowe, published in Venice 1662
motets for 1–5 voices and instruments
