Cristofaro Caresana
Encyclopedia
Cristofaro or Cristoforo Caresana (ca. 1640-1709) was an Italian
Baroque
composer, organist and tenor. He was an early representative of the Neapolitan
operatic school.
Born in Venice
, his precise birthday is not known. After studying under Pietro Andrea Ziani
(uncle of Marc'Antonio Ziani
) in Venice, he moved to Naples late in his teens, where he joined the theatre company of Febi Armonici which produced early examples of melodrama
. Later, in 1667, he became an organist and singer in the Chapel Royal and director of the Neapolitan Conservatorio di Sant'Onofrio a Porta Capuana, a type of orphanage-cum-music school, until 1690. In 1699 he succeeded Francesco Provenzale
as Master of the Treasury of San Gennaro. He wrote music for a number of other Neapolitan institutions until his death in 1709. Amongst others, the Spanish guitarist and composer Gaspar Sanz
studied music theory under his tutelage.
He is remembered for his cantata
s, especially for the Nativity season as well as instrumental interludes sometimes featuring spatially separated ensembles. His music continues to be played and recorded to the present day and stands testament to the quality of this Neapolitan baroque composer.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
composer, organist and tenor. He was an early representative of the Neapolitan
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
operatic school.
Born in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, his precise birthday is not known. After studying under Pietro Andrea Ziani
Pietro Andrea Ziani
Pietro Andrea Ziani was an Italian organist and composer. He was uncle of Marc'Antonio Ziani. His works included „L'Assalone punito" and the operas „La ricreazione burlesca" , „L'invidia conculcata della virtù, merito, virtù, merito, valore di Leopoldo imperatore" , „Cloridea " , „Circe" ,...
(uncle of Marc'Antonio Ziani
Marc'Antonio Ziani
Marc'Antonio Ziani was an Italian composer in Vienna.Marc'Antonio was born in Venice. He probably studied with his uncle, the organist Pietro Andrea Ziani. From 1686 to 1691 Ziani was maestro di cappella to Duke Ferdinando Carlo di Gonzaga in Mantua, but simultaneously developed his career as an...
) in Venice, he moved to Naples late in his teens, where he joined the theatre company of Febi Armonici which produced early examples of melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
. Later, in 1667, he became an organist and singer in the Chapel Royal and director of the Neapolitan Conservatorio di Sant'Onofrio a Porta Capuana, a type of orphanage-cum-music school, until 1690. In 1699 he succeeded Francesco Provenzale
Francesco Provenzale
Francesco Provenzale was an Italian Baroque composer and teacher.Before the year 1658, there is virtually no record of Provenzale's existence, although it's thought that he studied at the Conservatorio della Pietà dei Turchini in Naples. The year of his entry into history is 1654, the year his...
as Master of the Treasury of San Gennaro. He wrote music for a number of other Neapolitan institutions until his death in 1709. Amongst others, the Spanish guitarist and composer Gaspar Sanz
Gaspar Sanz
Gaspar Sanz was an Aragonese composer, guitarist, organist and priest born to a wealthy family in Calanda in the Spanish comarca of Bajo Aragón. He studied music, theology and philosophy at the University of Salamanca, where he was later appointed Professor of Music...
studied music theory under his tutelage.
He is remembered for his cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s, especially for the Nativity season as well as instrumental interludes sometimes featuring spatially separated ensembles. His music continues to be played and recorded to the present day and stands testament to the quality of this Neapolitan baroque composer.
Selected Recordings
- L’Adoratione de’ Maggi Christmas cantata for 6 voices (1676) with La Veglia Christmas cantata for 6 voices (1674), Demonio, Angelo e Tre Pastori cantata for 5 voices (1676), Partenope Leggiadra - secular cantata (1703). Cappella della Pietà de' TurchiniCappella della Pietà de' TurchiniThe Cappella della Pietà de' Turchini is an early music ensemble based in Naples and dedicated to the recovery of Neapolitan musical heritage, primarily from the baroque era....
dir. Florio, Glossa 2010.
Sources
- www.hoasm.org/VD/Caresana.html
- www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/Jan08/caresana_op30449.htm
- Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians