Joseph-Hector Fiocco received his musical education from both his father, Pietro Antonio Fiocco, and his older half-brother, Jean-Joseph Fiocco, who succeeded their father as maître de chapelle.
Composer Biography
Joseph-Hector Fiocco held multiple roles at the royal chapel in Brussels, including composer, harpsichordist, organist, instrument maker, and teacher of Latin and Greek.
Recording & Production
This recording is unique for presenting all nine lamentations and includes two newly discovered lamentations and a different version of a third, found by Diana Vinagre in the Antwerp archives.
Compositional Technique
Fiocco's Lamentations combine the emotional and chromatic qualities of Italian lamentations with the structural balance and melodic ornamentation of French counterparts, adding one or two solo cello parts for heightened emotional effect.
Composer Biography
Joseph-Hector Fiocco died unexpectedly at the age of 38 on June 22, 1741, at the peak of his career as chapel master at Sainte-Gudule cathedral in Brussels.
Composition History
Joseph-Hector Fiocco composed these Lamentations for Holy Week in 1733, likely eight of the nine Litanies mentioned in his salary records.
Composer Biography
Joseph-Hector Fiocco, the composer, was the eighth child of Venetian immigrant musician Pietro Antonio Fiocco, who became maître de musique de la chapelle royale de la cour in Brussels.
