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Basilica San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), Venice, Italy; Photo by Tomoko Yamamoto

Main Page of Photos of Venice, Italy Photos Piazza San Marco Doge's Palace, Main (Quay-side) Façade Doge's Palace, West (Piazzetta) Façade Gondolier under Ponte dei Sospiri Santa Maria della Salute San Giorgio Maggiore Gondola by Rialto Bridge View 1 of Grand Canal (Canal Grande) at Rialto Panorama View of Grand Canal (Canal Grande) at Rialto Gondola Ride in Side Canal Ca' d'Oro

This is an awsome basilica if you see its exterior for the first time after walking through the narrow alleys to reach the plaza. The church was first built to enshrine the body of St. Mark. The present structure dates back to a spectacular edifice designed by an unknown architect (1063-94). It became the cathedral of Venice in 1807.

The Venetian School:
Venice was the center of church music in the Late Renaissance. This church music activity took place inside the Basilica and out on the piazza as well. Choirmasters who served there were Adrian Willaert, Cipriano de Rore, Gioseffo Zarlino, and Baldassare Donati while organists included Jacques Buus, Annibale Padovano, Claudio Merulo, Andrea Gabrieli, and Giovanni Bagrieli. In addition to conducting choirs and playing the organ, these men were composers as well. One of the characteristics of the Venetian School is polychoral motets which were written for double chorus and sometimes up to five choruses.

Reference: Donald J Grout and Claude V. Palisca, A History of Western Music, 1988, New York and London, W. W. Norton

	Basilica Façade detail: Terrace mossaics and San Marco (St. Mark, with angels, St. Mark's Winged Lion, and four horses above the main portal, a portion taken from the larger photo above