Regarded as the founder the modern oratorio form, the great Italian composer Giacomo Carissimi had musical education in Rome. Carissimi was appointed choirmaster at Assisi and later at St. Apollinaris in Rome. Closely following the works and musical ideas of Palestrina, Carissimi embodied a vivid lyric quality to the recitative and added significant dramatic feelings to the form. Carissimi’s achievements were further developed by Handel and Bach.