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.
He received his musical training at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna and the Milan Conservatory, where his teachers included Francesco Sangalli (piano), Amilcare Ponchielli (composition) and Polibio Fumagalli (organ).
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.
In November 1924, Bossi embarked on a recital tour to New York and Philadelphia, where he made important appearances at Wanamaker's department stores in New York and in Philadelphia, where he played the Wanamaker Organ, the world's largest pipe organ. Bossi died unexpectedly at sea while returning from the United States on February 20, 1925, and was interred at Como.
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.
Tempo di Suonata per Organo a Pieno Op. 3Ouverture per organo op. 3 no. 3Intermezzo Tragico op. 10Scherzo in F major op. 49:1Scherzo in G minor op. 49:2Impromptu à la Chopin Op. 49:3Inno Trionfale op. 53Res Severa Magnum Gaudium: Prima Suite di 4 pezzi per organo op. 54:PreludioAllegro moderatoCoraleFuga4 Pieces op. 59:ToccataPastoraleMeditazioneOffertorioFirst Sonata in D minor op. 60Fuga sul tema Feda a Bach op. 62Fantaisie op. 64Marcia di Processione op. 686 Pieces op. 70:PréludeMusetteChoralScherzoCantabileAlleluja FinalSecond Sonata op. 71Marche héroïque op. 72Siciliana e giga, Op. 73 (1905); original for flute and piano; transcriptions by Renzo Bossi (composer) (1934) and Virgil Fox (1963)3 Pieces op. 74:PreghieraSicilianaOffertorioCantate Domino. Westminster Abbey - Hymne of Glory/Hymne de Gloire op. 76 for organ solo or organ and choirsÉtude symphonique op. 783 Pieces op. 92:Chant du soir in F majorIdylle in B majorAllegretto in A-flat major2 Pieces op. 94:Élevation in E-flat majorNoël in G majorScherzo Opus 953 Pieces op. 97Andante con motoAspirationGrand Chœur5 Pieces op. 104:Entrée Pontificale in C majorAve Maria in F majorOffertoire in D minorRésignationin G majorRédemption in C majorMissa pro Sponso et Sponsa Opus 110GradualeOffertorioCommunio[Savoya-Petrovich.] Marcia Nuziale/Hochzeits-Marsch op. 110 no. 45 Pieces op. 113:OffertorioGradualeCanzoncina a Maria VergineIn memoriamLaudate DominumThema und Variationen op. 11510 Compositions for Organ op. 118:PreludioFughettaPastoraleAngelus à 3Toccata di ConcertoMelodiaInvocazioneMarcia festivaIntermezzo à 3FinalePièce héroïque in D minor op. 128Concert Piece in C minor op. 1305 Pieces in free style op. 132Legende in D-flat majorTrauerzug in B-flat minorLändliche Szene in D majorStunde der Weihe in B majorStunde der Freude in C majorImprovisation op. 134 no. 23 Momenti francescani op. 140:FervoreColloquio colle rondiniBeatitudineTriptico ... Op. 142Meditazione in una Cattedrale op. 1442 Morceaux caractéristiques without opus:Preghiera. Fatemi la grazia in E majorMarcia dei Bardi in A-flat majorIntermezzo lirico in A-flat major without opusFlora mistica without opusPostludio in E minor without opusAve Maria without opusScherzo (terzo tempo della Sinfonia tematica) without opusRapsodia without opusAve Maria [#1] Op. 50, organ, voice & violinAdagio in A-flat major op. 84 for Violin and OrganConcerto for organ op. 1001st version in B-flat minor with large orchestra2nd version in A minor with four horns, timpani and string orchestraEntrata Pontificale opus 104 no. 1 for two organsBenediction nuptiale for cello & organ, Op. 111/1 (1897)Concert Piece in C minor op. 130 for Organ and OrchestraEpousailles - Sposalizio op. 134:1Méditation Réligieuse (violino, vioncello, arpa e organo)Fantasia Sinfonica for organ & orchestra, Op.147Sonata No. 1 in E minor for violin and pianoSiciliana e giga (in stile antico) for flute and piano, Op. 73 (1905); also for small orchestraRomance in A♭ major for cello or viola and piano, op. 89 (1894)Four Pieces in the Form of a Suite for violin and piano, op. 99Trio in D minor for violin, cello and piano, op. 1073 Feuillets d'album for cello and piano, op. 111Sonata No. 2 in C major for violin and piano, op. 117Trio sinfonico in D major for violin, cello and piano, op. 123Il Canto dell'Anima for cello and piano (without opus)Improvviso for flute and piano (without opus)Santa Caterina da Siena, Poemetto for violin, string quartet, harp, celesta and organ (without opus)7 Waltzes, Op.93 (for piano duet)5 Morceaux op. 95 [opus # doubtful]4 Pièces en forme d’une suite ancienne op. 1034 Morceaux op. 109Album for the Young, op. 122- Caresses
- Souvenir
- Scherzando
- Nocturne
- Babillage
- Gondoliera
- Valse charmante
- Berceuse
Intermezzi goldoniani op. 1276 Kinderstücke, Op.133Satire musicali without opusPapillons dorés ?without opusVocal and orchestra works
Ouverture Sinfonica for orchestra in E major, Op. 1Salve Regina op. 8Siciliana e giga in stile antico for small orchestra, Op. 73 (1905); also for flute and pianoMissa pro defunctis, for chorus, Op. 83Dio siete buono op. 98The Blind op. 112: Lyric Scene for baritone, choir and orchestraIn memoriam, No. 4, for chorus, Op. 113/4Canticum Canticorum op. 120: biblical cantata in three parts for baritone, soprano, choirs, orchestra and organIl Paradiso perduto op. 125: sinfonic poem in one prologue and three parts for soloists, choir, orchestra and organSuite in D minor, Op. 126 (timpani, percussion, harp, strings.)Intermezzi Goldoniani op. 127 for string orchestraJohanna d’Arc op. 135: a mystery in one prologue and three parts (12 images) for soloists, mixed choir, male choir, children's choirs (boys' and girls' parts), large orchestra and organIl Viandante without opus: lyric dramaSanctus et Benedictus without opus for alto and organA Raffaello divino without opus for mixed choir a capella
