Lot N. 300
Brevi Notizie Storiche sulla Congregazione ed Accademia di Santa Cecilia
Interesting Historiographical Work Dedicated to One of the Oldest and Most Prestigious Musical Institutions in the World
The volume traces the history of the Roman musicians’ guild, offering a key insight into the cultural and religious life of 19th-century Papal Rome.
Full Title: Brevi notizie storiche sulla Congregazione ed Accademia de' Maestri e Professori di Musica di Roma sotto l'invocazione di Santa Cecilia
Author: Pietro Alfieri, “Roman priest and Master Composer,” a prominent figure in 19th-century musicology, renowned for his studies on Gregorian chant and classical polyphony.
Typographical Data:
Rome, MDCCCXLV (1845), printed at the press of M. Perego-Salvioni, “With Approval.”
Decoration:
The title page is enriched with a central woodcut vignette depicting a trophy of musical instruments, prominently featuring a pipe organ—an iconographic symbol of the patron saint of music.
Historical and Documentary Value:
The work is a primary source for studying the Congregation of Santa Cecilia (today the National Academy), originally founded in 1585. Its publication in 1845 coincides with a period of significant reorganization of the Academy under Pope Gregory XVI.
Condition:
The title page is generally well preserved, with clear text and even inking. A slight central vertical crease—likely due to the natural folding of the paper or binding—does not compromise the integrity of the volume.
Santa Cecilia