Bossi was born in Salò, a town in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, into a family of musicians. His father, Pietro, was organist at Salò Cathedral, which has a one-manual organ built by Fratelli Serassi from 1865 (opus 684), which was restored in 2000/2001. He had two brothers, Costante Adolfo Bossi and Pietro Bossi.
In 1881, Bossi became director of music and organist at Como Cathedral. Nine years later, he was appointed as professor of organ and harmony at Naples Conservatory. In addition, he held directorships at conservatories in Venice (1895–1901), Bologna (1902–1911) and Rome (1916–1923), where he established and implemented the standards of organ studies that are still used in Italy today. His notable pupils included Giulio Bas, Giacomo Benvenuti, Giorgio Federico Ghedini, and Gian Francesco Malipiero. Throughout his career, Bossi made numerous international organ recital tours, which brought him in contact with well-known colleagues such as César Franck, Marcel Dupré, Alexandre Guilmant, Joseph Bonnet, Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles M. Courboin, and Karl Straube.
Recording session with Bossi for the Welte-Philharmonic-Organ, 1912.
In November 1924, Bossi embarked on a recital tour to New York and Philadelphia, where he made important appearances at Wanamaker's department store in Philadelphia, where he played the Wanamaker Organ, the world's largest pipe organ and at Wanamaker's store in New York City which also housed a large organ.[2] Bossi was ill during his U.S. trip. He died unexpectedly at sea while returning from the United States on February 20, 1925, and was interred at Como. (Bossi's tomb places his death on the 21st.)[3]
Marco Enrico Bossi wrote more than 150 works for various genres (orchestra, five operas, oratorios, choral and chamber music, as well as pieces for piano and organ). His catalog of compositions is still largely unknown, except for his organ works.
Andrea Macinanti is recording Marco Enrico Bossi's complete organ works for Tactus label.
Res Severa Magnum Gaudium: Prima suite di 4 pezzi per organo, Op. 54. Includes Preludio; Allegro moderato; Corale; Fuga
4 Pieces, Op. 59:. Includes Toccata; Pastorale; Meditazione; Offertorio
First Sonata in D minor, Op. 60
Fuga sul tema 'Feda a Bach', Op. 62
Fantaisie, Op. 64
Marcia di processione, Op. 68
6 Pieces, Op. 70. Includes Prélude; Musette; Choral; Scherzo; Cantabile; Alleluja Final
Second Sonata, Op. 71
Marche héroïque, Op. 72
Siciliana e giga, Op. 73 (1905); original for flute and piano; transcriptions by Renzo Bossi (composer) [de] (1934) and Virgil Fox (1963)
3 Pieces, Op. 74. Includes Preghiera; Siciliana; Offertorio
Cantate Domino. Westminster Abbey - Hymne of Glory/Hymne de Gloire, Op. 76 for organ solo or organ and choirs
Étude symphonique, Op. 78
3 Pieces, Op. 92. Includes Chant du soir in F major; Idylle in B major; Allegretto in A-flat major
2 Pieces, Op. 94. Includes Élevation in E-flat major; Noël in G major
Scherzo, Op. 95
3 Pieces, Op. 97. Includes Andante con moto; Aspiration; Grand Chœur
5 Pieces, Op. 104. Includes Entrée Pontificale in C major; Ave Maria in F major; Offertoire in D minor; Résignationin G major; Rédemption in C major
Missa pro sponso et sponsa, Op. 110. Includes Graduale; Offertorio; Communio; [Savoya-Petrovich.] Marcia Nuziale/Hochzeits-Marsch
5 Pieces, Op. 113. Includes Offertorio; Graduale; Canzoncina a Maria Vergine; In memoriam; Laudate Dominum
Thema und Variationen, Op. 115
10 Compositions for Organ, Op. 118. Includes Preludio; Fughetta; Pastorale; Angelus à 3; Toccata di concerto; Melodia; Invocazione; Marcia festiva; Intermezzo à 3; Finale
Pièce héroïque in D minor, Op. 128
Concert Piece in C minor, Op. 130
5 Pieces in free style, Op. 132. Includes Legende in D-flat major; Trauerzug in B-flat minor; Ländliche Szene in D major; Stunde der Weihe in B major; Stunde der Freude in C major
Improvisation, Op. 134 No. 2
3 Momenti francescani, Op. 140. Includes Fervore; Colloquio colle rondini; Beatitudine
Triptico, Op. 142
Meditazione in una cattedrale, Op. 144
2 Morceaux caractéristiques. Includes Preghiera. Fatemi la grazia in E major; Marcia dei Bardi in A-flat major
Ouverture sinfonica in E major, Op. 1, for orchestra
Salve Regina, Op. 8
Siciliana e giga in stile antico, Op. 73, for small orchestra (1905); also for flute and piano
Missa pro defunctis, Op. 83, for chorus
Dio siete buono, Op. 98
The Blind, Op. 112; lyric scene for baritone, choir and orchestra
In memoriam No. 4, Op. 113. No. 4, for chorus
Canticum canticorum, Op. 120; biblical cantata in three parts for baritone, soprano, choirs, orchestra and organ
Il Paradiso perduto, Op. 125; sinfonic poem in a prologue and three parts for soloists, choir, orchestra and organ
Suite in D minor, Op. 126, for timpani, percussion, harp and strings
Intermezzi Goldoniani, Op. 127, for string orchestra
Johanna d'Arc, Op. 135; a mystery in a prologue and three parts (12 images) for soloists, mixed choir, male choir, children's choirs (boys' and girls' parts), large orchestra and organ
^Di Cesare, Maria Carmela (1998). "Galli, Amintore". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani [Biographical Dictionary of Italians] (in Italian). Vol. 51. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
