Life
Maria Rosa Coccia was born in
Rome on 4 January 1759 and studied with
Sante Pesci. At the age of 13, Coccia composed six sonatas for harpsichord and the oratorio
Daniello, which was performed the same year in the Oratory
S. Filippo Neri, in defiance of a tradition that women were not allowed to attend the event. In 1716
Pope Clement XI had decreed that anyone practising music in Rome must enter the
Accademia di Santa Cecilia and pass the exam to become
Maestro di Capella. At 16 Coccia passed the exam and received the title, but because of her gender was never allowed to execute the duties of the position, though her music was performed. Her examination piece was hic vir despiciens mundum, and was 'widely acclaimed'. In 1780 Maestro di Cappella
Francesco Capalti of attacked Coccia's examination composition and her receipt of the title. She was defended by
Michele Mallio in his
Elogio storico della signora Maria Rosa Coccia romana (Rome, 1780), containing letters of support from
Metastasio,
Carlo Broschi and
Giovanni Battista Martini. in 1784 published an open letter in defense of Coccia and against criticism of Capalti. The last known work of Coccia's was an 1783 cantata for four voices. Maria Rosa Coccia died in Rome in November 1833. ==Works==
Works
Selected works include: • Six Sonatas for harpsichord • Daniello nel lago dei leoni, oratorio in two parts, Rome, Chiesa Nuova, 1772, lost • ''L'isola disabitata'' (P. Metastasio), 1772, lost • Hic vir despiciens mundum, fugue, 4 voices, Rome, 1774 (examination piece for Congregazione di S Cecilia, and Accademia Filarmonica, Bologna) • Magnificat, Soprano voice, Contralto voice, organ, 1774 • Dixit Dominus, 8 voices, organ, 1775 (may be same as Dixit Dominus, 8 voices, violin, viola, oboe, flute, horn) • ''Il trionfo d'Enea'', cantata in two parts, Soprano voice, Soprano voice, Contralto voice, Tenor voice, violin, viola, horn, trumpet, oboe, contrabbasso, basso continuo, ?1779 • Ifigenia, cantata, 2 sopranos, orchestra, 1779, composed for the Princess Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma • Arsinoe, cantata, 4 voices, orchestra, 1783 • Confitebor, Soprano voice, Soprano voice, organ • ‘Qualche lagrime spargete’ from Semiramide, lost • Salve Regina, 2 voices, organ, n.d. • Veni Creator Spiritus, 4 voices, organ • 4 psalms, lost ==References==