Croce, GIOVANNI, composer, b. at Chioggia near Venice in 1557; d. 15 May, 1609. Under the tutelage at Venice of Gioseffo Zarlino, Croce became one of the most noted composers of the Venetian School. After entering the priesthood he was attached to the church of Santa Maria Formosa. In 1593 he was given charge of the choir boys at San Marco with the title of vice-director. On the death of Baltazzaro Donati, 13 July, 1603, Croce became his successor as choirmaster. He wrote a great deal of secular music in the forms particularly cultivated in his time, such as the madrigal and the canzonetta, but his chief productions are those destined for the Church. Their characteristics are clarity of form and a devotional spirit. Many of his compositions form part of Proske’s “Musica Divina” and Lueck’s collection contains three motets; “O sacrum convivium”, “Cantate Domino”, and “ Exaudi Deus”.
AMBROS, Geschichte der Musik (Leipzig, 1881); KORNMÜLLER, Lexikon der kirchlichen Tonkunst (Ratisbon, 1895), Pt. II, p. 66. CAFFI, Storia della Musica Sacra (Venice, 1854-55), I, 200, 206.
Joseph Otten.