Bernardo Gianoncelli (died before 1650) was an Italian composer and lutenist in the first half of the 17th century.
Life and works
Gianoncelli (also known as “Il Bernardello”) was one of the last Italian composers for the Baroque lute. Very little is known about his life. In 1650, his widow published a collection of his compositions under the title Il liuto di Bernardo Gianoncelli (the only surviving copy is in the Biblioteca Marciana in Venice). The collection consists of several suites arranged by key. They are among the last Italian contributions to the development of the suite as a closed musical form. Gianoncelli’s compositions reveal a new style that combines improved counterpoint with homophonic melodies. Gianoncelli’s best-known pieces are three instrumental correntes and Bergamasca, of which Oscar Chilesotti made an arrangement for lute and Ottorino Respighi made an orchestral version.