ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author shows that Marenzio's relations with his compatriots, relations that remained alive even during his long periods of residence in Rome, perhaps through the agency of the Confraternita dei Bresciani. In a cosmopolitan city like Rome no one forgot his homeland: there existed confraternities which acted as gathering points for the adherents of a particular nazione, whether this was a large state like France or Spain, or a famous city such as Naples or Florence. Even in Rome, thanks to the presence of the Confraternita dei Bresciani, Marenzio could have maintained close links with musicians and patrons of his homeland such as Martinengo, Bertani, Bargnani and Virchi, as well as Rossi. In his short biographical sketch of Marenzio, Rossi proves to be a reliable historian. Moreover he lived for some years in Rome, where he knew Cardinals Baronio and Bellarmino. He probably visited the Brescian confraternity in Rome, and perhaps knew Marenzio in person.
