City in Italy, in Tuscany, to the west of Florence. Music was performed in the cathedral from the 12th century and a singing school for the priests was established soon afterwards. The cappella of 1565 had a maestro, six singers and two instrumentalists. A bull issued in 1669 by the Pistoiese Pope Clement IX redirected income there from a suppressed convent; from then on, the number of singers averaged about 14, with one or two organists, and a trombone player was added at the end of the 17th century. Freelance instrumentalists were employed for important occasions and some of the chapel singers doubled as string players. The Basilica di S Maria dell'Umiltΰ also had a maestro di cappella and a salaried choir who sang laudi on Saturdays during Lent and before Christmas.
Fetonte Cancellieri, a cathedral chorister, was first responsible for the opulent musical festival of S Cecilia in 1611, which was held for almost two centuries. His nephew Felice Cancellieri, an ex-Habsburg singer, founded the Congregazione dei Trentatrθ, active by 1644, to finance music for the Oratorians at S Prospero (later renamed S Filippo Neri). Early in the 18th century up to seven oratorios were mounted each carnival season; the number had declined by mid-century, but occasional performances were given until the final suppression of 1808. Many of the city's numerous confraternities included music making and an occasional oratorio among their activities. Conspicuous sums of money went to provide secular and sacred music for the feasts of St James and St Bartholomew. The Jesuit Collegio dei Nobili, 16351773, attached to the church of S Ignazio (later Spirito Santo), was patronized by the Rospigliosi family; music, including music drama in honour of the patrons, was performed by the scholars.
Passion plays with music were performed in the cathedral on Good Friday from the 14th century until 1476, when they were moved to the Loggia del Giuramento in the main city square. This served as the city's only theatre until the great hall of the Palazzo del Comune opened its doors, despite much opposition from the Church, at the end of the 16th century. It was used around 1700 for musical events held for the Medici and for the feast of St Agatha, and in the 1800s for celebratory cantatas.
The Accademia dei Risvegliati was founded in 1642 by Felice Cancellieri, who included music in their weekly meetings. The Teatro Risvegliati opened in 1694 with regular seasons of opera for the carnival and the feast of St James on 24 July; late spring and autumn seasons were added later. Concerts were held there, many given by the Accademia degli Armonici (founded in 1787), as well as occasional oratorio performances. It was renamed the Teatro Manzoni in 1864. The 50-year period from 1871 saw lively operatic activity under Vittorio Bellini. After World War II, with easy travel to Florence, few productions were mounted.
The private theatres of the nobility housed music drama in the 17th century, while the popular Teatrino del Corso was active in the 18th. The Arena Matteini (later called the Politeama and Politeama Mabellini) was first used as an open-air venue in 1855. Rebuilt as an opera house a few years later, it staged both opera and operetta until destroyed by fire in 1943.
The city has spawned many famous performers and composers, most of whom made their reputations outside Pistoia. The cathedral music school was important in the training of singers, especially the early 17th-century castratos. The Accademia degli Armonici helped start a music school (now the Scuola di Musica Mabellini) in 1858 to provide members for the chorus and orchestra of the theatre; the school was active throughout the 20th century.
The city was home to the Tronci family of organ builders, active from about 1750 until well into the 20th century. They worked alone and in collaboration with the Agati. A school of organ builders and an organ school, the Accademia dell'Organo, still flourish. Although the city is now culturally dependent on Florence, the open-air jazz festival held each summer in the Piazza del Duomo is of international standing.
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JEAN GRUNDY FANELLI