The year 1638 in music involved some significant events.
Events February 6 – Luminalia, a masque written by Sir William Davenant and designed by Inigo Jones, is staged at the English Court. The work features music by Nicholas Lanier.
Publications Antonio Cifra – for two, three, four, six, and eight voices (Rome: Vincenzo Blanco for Ludovico Grignani), published posthumously Claudio Monteverdi – (Eighth book of madrigals for five voices) (Venice: Alessandro Vincenti)
Classical music Nicolas Formé – , a double choir motet
Opera Benedetto Ferrari and Francesco Manelli – , premiered at Teatro San Cassiano, in Venice Michelangelo Rossi – , premiered in Ferrara.
Births July 15 – Giovanni Buonaventura Viviani, Italian composer and violinist (d. c. 1693) date unknown – Diogo Dias Melgás, composer (died 1700)
Deaths January 21 – Ignazio Donati, composer (born c.1570) May 27 – Nicolas Formé, French composer (born 1567) September – John Wilbye, composer (born 1574) November 6 – Gabriel Díaz Bessón, composer (born 1590) date unknown – Francis Pilkington, composer, lutenist and singer (born c.1565) probable – Settimia Caccini, composer and singer (born 1591)
References