Castaldi's music covers nearly the entire range of musical languages known in Italy during his time, and his instrumental compositions show great skill in imitative counterpoint.
Recording & Production
This 1998 recording is the first disc of Le Poème Harmonique, the ensemble founded by Vincent Dumestre, and the first release in the Alpha catalogue.
Instruments
The recording uses a theorbo and tiorbino, a smaller sister instrument that sounds an octave higher, as mentioned in Castaldi's original Capricci title.
Composer Biography
Bellerofonte Castaldi, the composer, was an atypical figure, exiled from Modena after avenging his brother's murder, and often persecuted or imprisoned for his free-thinking views.
Interpretation
The ensemble added a lirone to the continuo and used a treble viol instead of a violin, as the viol better imitates the human voice for vocal melismas.
Interpretation
Despite being highly composed, Castaldi's pieces allow performers a degree of freedom, as he often omitted indications for tempo, phrasing, dynamics, or ornamentation, believing talented players would find them.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Castaldi was both a poet and a musician, and he likely wrote some of the texts for his own pieces.
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