Gregory Alegri was born in 1582 in
Rome. It was later speculated that he was descended from the famous Renaissance painter
Antonio Alegri's Coredge. This version has now been found to be unfounded. Gregory's family came from
Milan. Gregorio Alegri was trained early as a choir boy. In 1604, he joined the choir of
tenor San Luigi dei Francesi church. The choir was directed by the famous Roman composer
Giovanni Maria Nanino, from whom Gregory learnt to compose music under the tutelage of Nanino's old teacher, the renowned Renaissance composer
Palestrina by the method of counterpoint.
1607-1621 Gregory Alegri sang and composed music in the choirs of the
Cathedral of the city of Fermo and then in the choirs of the
Cathedral of Tivoli. His brother Domenico Allegri also became a famous singer. 1618-19 m. Allegri published 2 volumes of concertos for 5 voices, and in 1620-21 two volumes of
motets for 6 voices. Alegri joined the choir of Pope
Urbon VIII as a singer, where he sang for the rest of his life. Urban VIII himself invited Gregory to fill the vacancy in the choir. In the 1630s, he composed his famous work
Miserere, which has been performed every year since by the papal choir during Holy Week. Gregory Allegri wrote 5 masses, 2 versions of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, specially adapted to the acoustics of the
Sixth Chapel. Later in his life he wrote more motets. Gregory Alegri died in Rome on 17 February 1652. He was buried in the church of
Santa Maria in Vallicella.
