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Bergamo occupies the site of the ancient town of Bergomum, which was a Roman municipality. It was destroyed by Attila in the 5th century. Between 1264 and 1428 the town was ruled by Milan, but passed to Venetian control until 1797; the Venetians fortified the higher portion of the town.
Bergamo has a prominent place in music history. The large Romanesque church of S Maria Maggiore, begun in 1137, had a continuous and well-documented tradition of music teaching and singing for more than eight hundred years. Since the town was under Venetian control, the musical style of the Venetians was imported as well; in particular, a large instrumental ensemble grew up to support the choral singing. Composers such as Gasparo Alberti produced polychoral music with two organsThe organ is a type of keyboard musical instrument, distinctive because the sound is not produced by a percussion action, as on a piano or celesta, or by means of vibrating strings, as on the harpsichord. Instead, pipe organs produce sound by means of flo, brass and violThe viol or viola da gamba family of musical instruments is related to the vihuela, rebec, etc. The instrument has its roots in the guitar; it is thought that guitarists began playing their instruments with a bow in the 15th century. This eventually led ts, a style usually associated with Venice, but which flourished in the fine acoustical environment of S Maria Maggiore.
Prominent musicians born in Bergamo include Gaetano DonizettiDomenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti ( Bergamo Italy, 29 november 1797- 8 april 1848). Donizetti is known principally as an Italian opera composer. However he composed music in a number of other forms, including some church music, a number of string quartets,, Pietro LocatelliPietro Antonio Locatelli ( September 3, 1695 March 30, 1764) was an Italian composer and violinist. He was born in Bergamo in Italy. He studied in Rome and settled in Amsterdam in 1729, where he died. Locatelli's works are mainly for the violin, an instru, and Antonio Lolli . Alessandro GrandiAlessandro Grandi (c. 1575 1630) was a northern Italian composer of the early Baroque era, writing in the new concertato style. He was one of the most inventive, influential and popular composers of the time, probably second only to Monteverdi in northern, one of the most progressive composers of the early 17th century16th century 17th century 18th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601- 1700. During this period, the power of England and the United Provinces increased; while that of after Monteverdi, was maestro di cappella there until his death in the plague of 1630Events February 22 Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists June 6 Swedish warships depart from Stockholm to Germany June 26 Swedish troops begin to land in Pomerania to aid Protestants July 6 Swedish troops under Gustavus Adolph; Tarquinio Merula , and even more progressive composer, and one of the founders of the early sonata, took over his post.