Dario Castello's "Sonate concertate in Stil Moderno" were so revolutionary that they were reprinted multiple times in Venice and Antwerp until 1658.
Performer Biography
Musica Fiata, the ensemble on this recording, was founded in 1976 and specializes in performing 16th and 17th-century music on historical instruments.
Composer Biography
Little is known about Dario Castello, the composer, beyond what the title pages of his publications reveal: he was a musician at San Marco and led a wind ensemble.
Compositional Technique
Castello's sonatas extensively use tempo markings (allegro, adagio, presto), sudden dynamic changes, and frequent meter changes, influenced by contemporary vocal music.
Compositional Technique
Castello's sonatas feature virtuosic demands on all instruments and contrast solo passages with tutti sections, often including a concertizing bass part for bassoon or trombone.
Composer's Artistic Vision
In his foreword to the 1629 publication, Dario Castello expressed his wish for his sonatas, which he composed with great effort, to have a long life, comparing them to sons.
Cultural Impact
Castello's revolutionary sonatas were so influential that they served as a basic model for at least half a century, impacting composers like Antonio Bertali, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, and Johann Rosenmüller.
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