Bertali joined the Vienna court in 1623 or 1624, with an imperial resolution of 1666 noting his "zealous throughout forty-two years' good-humoured and efficient service."
Composer Biography
Antonio Bertali, born in Verona in 1605, received his musical training from Stefano Bernardi, a composer and maestro di cappella, and the violinist Francesco Lauro.
Composition History
Bertali was commissioned to compose works for significant imperial events, including a cantata for the 1631 imperial wedding, a Mass for the 1636 imperial diet, and a Requiem for the death of Ferdinand II.
Performer Biography
Philippe Pierlot, the director of the Ricercar Consort, taught himself guitar and lute before studying viola da gamba with Wieland Kuijken.
Compositional Technique
Bertali's sonatas are characterized by their substantial duration and organization into numerous brief sections, which vary greatly in tempo, meter, instrumentation, texture, harmony, and melodic phrasing.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bertali's sonatas, while rooted in the northern Italian tradition, also contain features that define a more specifically Austrian style, foreshadowing later composers like Schmelzer, Vejvanovsky, and Biber.
Composer Biography
Antonio Bertali was appointed court Kapellmeister on October 1, 1649, after the death of Giovanni Valentini.
You might also enjoy...
Concerti Curiosi
Lawes: Royall Consort Suites Nos. 1-10
Schmelzer: Sonate e balletti
The Best of the Baltimore Consort
Chamber and Vocal Music (16Th-17Th Centuries) – Reade, R. / Johnson, J. Ravenscroft, T. / Morley, T. (The Ladyes Delight)
