
Photo: Zagarolesedoc · Public domain · credits
Goffredo Petrassi
Person · male · Italy · Zagarolo · born 1904 · died 2003 · recording since 1972
Italian composer (1904–2003)
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Also known as 高夫雷多·佩特拉西
Timeline
1900s
1960s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: Guitar
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
2010s
· Album
Album: Piano Concerto / Flute Concerto / La follia di Orlando (Ballet Suite)
Album
source: musicbrainz
2020s
Biography
Biography
Goffredo Petrassi (16 July 1904 – 3 March 2003) was an Italian composer of modern classical music, conductor, and teacher. He is considered one of the most influential Italian composers of the twentieth century.
Life
Petrassi was born at Zagarolo, near Rome. At the age of 15 he began to work at a music shop to supply his family's financial needs, and became fascinated by music. In 1928, he entered the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome to study organ and composition for five years under Vincenzo di Donato. In 1933, composer Alfredo Casella conducted Petrassi's Partita for orchestra at the ISCM festival in Amsterdam.
From 1940 to 1960 Petrassi was professor of composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory; later, he also became musical director of the opera house La Fenice, and from 1960 to 1978 he taught in the master courses in composition at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia. He was also a teacher at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Petrassi had many famous students, including Franco Donatoni, Aldo Clementi, Cornelius Cardew, Ennio Morricone, Karl Korte, Boris Porena, Norma Beecroft, Mario Bertoncini, Ernesto Rubin de Cervin, Eric Salzman, Kenneth Leighton, Peter Maxwell Davies, Michael Dellaira, Armando Santiago, and Richard Teitelbaum. See: List of music students by teacher: N to Q#Goffredo Petrassi. Petrassi died in Rome at the age of 98.
Music
Petrassi's early work was part of an attempt by several Italian composers to create a national "Italian" revival in classical music, corresponding to the romantic work of Germans such as Richard Wagner. During this time, his work was characteristically neoclassical in style, influenced by Bartók, Hindemith and Stravinsky.
In later years, Petrassi's open musical mind and acute personality led him to experiment with different post-Webernian influences and a wide range of poetic materials, from Latin hymns to Ariosto's La follia d'Orlando and Ritratto di Don Chisciotte (Portrait of Don Quixote), based on the Miguel de Cervantes literary character. All these influences are present in a remarkable series of eight Concerti for Orchestra which he composed between 1934 and 1972. His music appears on the CD labels Chandos, Stradivarius, Naxos, and Capriccio.
Petrassi stopped composing in 1986 due to progressive loss of eyesight.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 12 | 83.4th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 5 | 97.4th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 31 | 68.2th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (12 release groups · 11 studio albums)
Albums · 11
1972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1Six pièces brèves pour guitare: I. PreamboloA2Six pièces brèves pour guitare: II. Scene de BalletA3Six pièces brèves pour guitare: III. Danse guerriereA4Six pièces brèves pour guitare: IV. GrinzingA5Six pièces brèves pour guitare: V. IntermezzoA6Six pièces brèves pour guitare: VI. TirnovoA7Three Dances for GuitarA8Trois mouvements pour guitare: I. Mouvement méchaniqueA9Trois mouvements pour guitare: II. AndanteA10Trois mouvements pour guitare: III. ToccatinaA11Suoni notturniB1Variations sur "Folia de Espana" et fugueConcerti per orchestra (Integrale - Complete)
2004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 37 tracks · 2:39:39
Disc 11(Primo) Concerto: I. Allegro7:042(Primo) Concerto: II. Adagio9:203(Primo) Concerto: III. Tempo Di Marcia5:574Secondo Concerto: I. Calmo E Sereno - Molto Mosso, Con Vivacità6:325Secondo Concerto: II. Allegretto Tranquillo3:486Secondo Concerto: III. Molto Calmo, Quasi Adagio4:197Secondo Concerto: IV. Presto3:108Récréation Concertante (III Concerto) Per Orchestra: I. Allegro Sostenuto Ed Energico - Allegro Spiritoso4:379Récréation Concertante (III Concerto) Per Orchestra: II. Molto Moderato3:0110Récréation Concertante (III Concerto) Per Orchestra: III. Vigoroso E Ritmico4:1411Récréation Concertante (III Concerto) Per Orchestra: IV. Più Calmo, Adagio Moderato3:5612Récréation Concertante (III Concerto) Per Orchestra: V. Allegretto Sereno2:3313Quarto Concerto: I. Placidamente5:4714Quarto Concerto: II. Allegro Inquieto2:2215Quarto Concerto: III. Sereno1:4216Quarto Concerto: IV. Allegro Inquieto1:0017Quarto Concerto: V. Molto Sostenuto - Lentissimo5:5318Quarto Concerto: VI. Allegro Giusto5:47Disc 21Quinto Concerto: I. Molto Moderato5:282Quinto Concerto: II. Presto5:113Quinto Concerto: III. Andantino Tranquilo5:134Quinto Concerto: IV. Mosso Con Vivacità3:505Quinto Concerto: V. Lento E Grave5:376Invenzione Concertata (Sesto Concerto): I. Mosso (Inquieto)1:087Invenzione Concertata (Sesto Concerto): II. Energico2:458Invenzione Concertata (Sesto Concerto): III. Adagio Sostenuto3:369Invenzione Concertata (Sesto Concerto): IV. Estatico2:0410Invenzione Concertata (Sesto Concerto): V. Tempo (Liberamente)3:5911Settimo Concerto: I. Prologo2:1312Settimo Concerto: II. Primo2:4413Settimo Concerto: III. Secondo1:2814Settimo Concerto: IV. Terzo4:0715Settimo Concerto: V. Quarto2:2616Settimo Concerto: VI. Epilogo3:4017Ottavo Concerto: I. Movimento7:1818Ottavo Concerto: II. Movimento8:4619Ottavo Concerto: III. Movimento7:042013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 29 tracks · 1:05:33
1Magnificat: "Magnificat: anima mea Dominum". Allegro – Stesso tempo – Andante – Tempo I –3:402Magnificat: "Et exultavit spiritus meus". Sostenuto - Più mosso -1:363Magnificat: "In Deo salutari meo". Moderato - Molto lento -3:404Magnificat: "Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae". Moderato -3:065Magnificat: "Quia fecit mihi magna". Mosso con energia - Molto sostenuto, grandioso -1:046Magnificat: "Et sanctum nomen ejus". Andantino - Adagio -3:207Magnificat: "Et misericordia ejus". Andante mosso -1:398Magnificat: "Fecit potentiam in brachio suo". [Andante mosso] - Ancora più mosso - Vivo -2:189Magnificat: "Deposuit potentes de sede". Moderato -1:2310Magnificat: "Esurientes inplevit bonis". Andantino (non troppo) - Lento - Adagio -2:3111Magnificat: "Suscepit Israel puerum suum". Andante sostenuto -2:1312Magnificat: "Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros". Allegro sostenuto -1:4613Magnificat: "Gloria Patri, et Filio". Presto2:3014Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Confitebor ribi Domine". Mosso -2:3115Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Quoniam fecisti judicium meum". Adagio -2:4816Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Increpasti gentes". Allegro (non troppo) -1:2117Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Inimici defecerunt frameae in fine". Un poco più sostenuto -2:1518Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Et civitates eorum dextruxisti". Stesso tempo - Più mosso - Più mosso -1:2219Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Et Dominus in aeternum permanet". Adagio (Corale) -2:0220Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Et factus est Dominus refugium pauperi". Adagio (non troppo) -3:3721Salmo IX°: Prima parte. "Et sperent in te". Più mosso - Più lento - Adagio4:5422Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Psallite Domino qui habitat in Sion". Adagio - Poco più mosso - Adagio2:2223Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Vide humilitatem mean de inimici mei". Stesso tempo -2:2924Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Exultabo in salutari tuo". Allegro - Poco meno -1:5425Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Cognoscetur Dominus judicia faciens". Mosso -0:5326Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Convertantur peccatores in infernum". Accelerando molto -0:4527Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Quoniam non in finem oblivio". Adagio -2:1728Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Exurge, Domine". Mosso - Largo - Mosso - Largo - Mosso - Largo -0:4429Salmo IX°: Seconda parte. "Constitue, Domine, legislatorem super eos". Adagio2:33Partita / Divertimento / 4 inni sacri / Coro di morti
2013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:15:30
1Divertimento in C Major: I. Allegro5:052Divertimento in C Major: II. Caccia: Andante6:203Divertimento in C Major: III. Pavana6:014Divertimento in C Major: IV. Allegro4:165Partita for Orchestra: I. Gagliarda5:586Partita for Orchestra: II. Ciaccona7:507Partita for Orchestra: III. Giga4:5784 inni sacri (version for tenor, baritone and orchestra): No. 1. Jesus dulcis memoria4:0394 inni sacri (version for tenor, baritone and orchestra): No. 2. Te lucis ante terminum2:58104 inni sacri (version for tenor, baritone and orchestra): No. 3. Lucis creator optime3:57114 inni sacri (version for tenor, baritone and orchestra): No. 4. Salvete Christi vulnera7:2512Coro di morti16:40Piano Concerto / Flute Concerto / La follia di Orlando (Ballet Suite)
2014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:11:30
1Flute Concerto19:382Piano Concerto: Non molto mosso, ma energico12:023Piano Concerto: Arietta con variazioni: Molto adagio e tranquillo13:034Piano Concerto: Rondo: Andantino mosso - Allegro agitato7:045La follia di Orlando (Symphonic Suite from the Ballet): Introduzione: Allegro sostenuto - Quadro I: Danza di Angelica: Andantino grazioso, con fantasia5:146La follia di Orlando (Symphonic Suite from the Ballet): Quadro II: Angelica e Medoro: Andante sereno7:167La follia di Orlando (Symphonic Suite from the Ballet): Quadro III: Danza di Astolfo: Presto, volante e leggero3:508La follia di Orlando (Symphonic Suite from the Ballet): Quadro I: Danza guerriera: Molto sostenuto3:23Coro dei morti / Noche oscura / Quattro inni sacri / Partita
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:09:32
1Partita: I. Gagliardia5:212Partita: II. Ciaccona8:323Partita: III. Giga4:374Quattro Inni Sacri: I. Jesu dulcis memoria3:575Quattro Inni Sacri: II. Te lucis ante terminum2:546Quattro Inni Sacri: III. Lucis creator optime3:547Quattro Inni Sacri: IV. Salvete Christi vulnera6:298Noche oscura19:229Coro di morti: I. Andante lento. Sola nel mondo eterna4:3110Coro di morti: II. Scherzo strumentale. Moderato1:2111Coro di morti: III. Andante lento. Vivemmo. e qual di paurosa larva2:1312Coro di morti: IV. Tempo dello scherzo - Sostenuto, ma non troppo1:0913Coro di morti: V. Moderatissimo. Che fummo?5:122021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:07:18
1Elogio per un’ombra12:262Nunc8:203Flou9:494Souffle10:525Toccata7:566Suoni notturni6:527Violasola11:03Concertos for Orchestra nos. 1-3
2025 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:00:54
1(Primo) Concerto per orchestra: I. Allegro8:132(Primo) Concerto per orchestra: II. Adagio8:293(Primo) Concerto per orchestra: III. Tempo di marcia6:124Secondo Concerto per orchestra: Calmo e sereno - Molto mosso, con vivacità -7:005Secondo Concerto per orchestra: Allegretto tranquillo -3:136Secondo Concerto per orchestra: Molto calmo, quasi adagio -3:387Secondo Concerto per orchestra: Presto3:218Récréation concertante (Terzo Concerto per orchestra): Allegro sostenuto ed energico - Allegro spiritoso -5:289Récréation concertante (Terzo Concerto per orchestra): Molto moderato -3:4810Récréation concertante (Terzo Concerto per orchestra): Vigoroso e ritmico -5:0711Récréation concertante (Terzo Concerto per orchestra): Adagio moderato -3:3712Récréation concertante (Terzo Concerto per orchestra): Allegretto sereno2:48Concertos for Orchestra nos. 4–6
2025 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:14:24
1Concerto for Orchestra no. 4: Placidamente –7:042Concerto for Orchestra no. 4: Allegro inquieto –2:513Concerto for Orchestra no. 4: Sereno –1:414Concerto for Orchestra no. 4: Allegro inquieto –1:135Concerto for Orchestra no. 4: Molto sostenuto – Lentissimo –8:506Concerto for Orchestra no. 4: Allegro giusto7:047Concerto for Orchestra no. 5: Ia. Molto moderato –6:308Concerto for Orchestra no. 5: Ib. Presto6:179Concerto for Orchestra no. 5: IIa. Andantino tranquillo –5:3610Concerto for Orchestra no. 5: IIb. Mosso, con vivacità –4:0311Concerto for Orchestra no. 5: IIc. Lento e grave5:4812Concerto for Orchestra no. 6 “Invenzione concertata”: Mosso (inquieto) –1:3813Concerto for Orchestra no. 6 “Invenzione concertata”: Energico –3:3214Concerto for Orchestra no. 6 “Invenzione concertata”: Adagio sostenuto –4:1515Concerto for Orchestra no. 6 “Invenzione concertata”: (estatico) –2:4616Concerto for Orchestra no. 6 “Invenzione concertata”: Tempo (liberamente) –5:16Poema / Kyrie / Frammento / Concerto per flauto : Ritratto di Don Chisciotte
— · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:06:34
1Frammento per Orchestra6:352Concerto per Flauto e Orchestra18:083Poema per Archi e Tromba16:414Kyrie per Coro e Archi5:205Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: Introduzione2:046Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: I. Danza2:467Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: II. Danza (Ostinato)2:478Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: Intermezzo Secondo1:349Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: III. Danza3:3810Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: IV. Danza4:3411Ritratto di Don Chisciotte, Balletto per Orchestra: Finale2:27Invenzioni / Serenata / Duetto / Laudes Creaturarum / Grand Septuor
— · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 1:02:22
1Invenzioni (1944), Per Pianoforte12:582Serenata (1958), Per 5 Strumenti15:013Laudes Creaturarum (1982), Obola Francescano Per Voce Recitante E 6 Strumenti11:174Duetto (1985), Per Violino E Viola7:415Grand Septuor Avec Clarinette Concertante (1977/78)15:25
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | AGP33: Goffredo PetrassiSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 59:191Estri14:05 2Tre per Sette10:29 3Serenata14:36 4Beatitudines12:12 5Flou7:57 | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Goffredo Petrassi head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 12 | 83.4th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 5 | 97.4th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 31 | 68.2th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Gold medal for merit in school, culture and art | won | |
| 1990 | Gold Medal of the Italian Order of Merit for Culture and Art | won | |
| 1992 | Viareggio-Versilia International Prize | won | |
| — | Honorary Member of the International Society for Contemporary Music | won | |
| — | Rome Prize | won |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goffredo.petrassi2.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/be0525e6-bf79-4a77-9ef3-0273ec2cc29ediscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/be0525e6-bf79-4a77-9ef3-0273ec2cc29ecore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q505806genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q505806seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goffredo_Petrassibiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goffredo_Petrassi
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Zagarolesedoc · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q505806 · MusicBrainz: be0525e6-bf79-4a77-9ef3-0273ec2cc29e
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