Jerusalem [Hyerusalem; Hierusalem], Ignacio [Gerusalemme, Ignazio]
- Craig H. Russell
Extract
[Gerusalemme, Ignazio]
(b Lecce, June 3, 1707; d Mexico City, Dec 15, 1769). Mexican composer and violinist of Italian birth . His father, Matteo Martino Gerusalemme (b 1667), was a violinist at the Jesuit church in Lecce. In 1742, while active as a theatre musician in Cádiz, Ignazio was persuaded to leave for Mexico City by Josef Cárdenas, the administrator of the Real Hospital de Naturales, who was in Cádiz to recruit musicians and actors for the Antiguo Coliseo in Mexico City. Jerusalem and his companions, who included singers, dancers and instrumentalists, began arriving at Mexico City at the end of 1743, their performances beginning in the spring of the following year. Jerusalem became director of the Coliseo, where he established a reputation as a gifted composer. In June 1746 he entered the service of Mexico City Cathedral, composing villancicos and teaching at the Colegio de Infantes.
Jerusalem found himself at loggerheads with Domingo Dutra, an indifferent musician who had been the cathedral’s interim ...
