Dario Castello
Encyclopedia
Dario Castello was an Italian
composer and instrumentalist from the early Baroque
period who worked and published in Venice
. As regards his instrument, it is not clear whether he played the cornetto
or the bassoon
. As a composer, he was a late member of the Venetian School and had a role in the transformation of the instrumental canzona
into the sonata.
The title page of the 1629 edition of the first volume of the Sonate Concertate records him as Capo di Compagnia de Musichi d'Instrumenti da fiato in Venetia, indicating that he led a Venetian company of piffari, a band that could include trumpets, trombones, cornetts, shawms, bagpipes, drums, recorders and viols.
The title page of the second volume (1644 edition) of the "Sonate Concertate" lists him as Musico Della Serenissima Signoria di Venetia in S. Marco, & Capo di Compagnia de Instrumenti, indicating that he worked at the great Basilica of St. Mark's where Claudio Monteverdi
was maestro di capella. Castello's use of the stile concitato (agitated style) —with quick repeated-note figures— is consistent with his association with Monteverdi.
There are records of other instrumentalists with the surname Castello working at St Mark's, and it is possible they were relatives of Dario.
s over basso continuo, in keeping with the title of the publications "in stil moderno"; however he also uses some of the older canzona
technique, which uses short sections of highly contrasting texture, and active rather than lyrical melodic lines. Unusually for the time, Castello often specifies the instruments for each part, calling for cornett
i, violin
s, sackbutts and dulcian
s. That these works were still being reprinted in the 1650s attests to Castello's influence.
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...
composer and instrumentalist from the early 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...
period who worked and published 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...
. As regards his instrument, it is not clear whether he played the cornetto
Cornett
The cornett, cornetto or zink is an early wind instrument, dating from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was used in what are now called alta capellas or wind ensembles. It is not to be confused with the trumpet-like instrument cornet.-Construction:There are three basic types of...
or the bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
. As a composer, he was a late member of the Venetian School and had a role in the transformation of the instrumental canzona
Canzona
In the 16th century an instrumental chanson; later, a piece for ensemble in several sections or tempos...
into the sonata.
Biographical details
There is no biographical information about Castello. Even his birth and death dates are unknown. It is thought he may possibly have died during the great plague of 1630; certainly, he published no new music after this date.The title page of the 1629 edition of the first volume of the Sonate Concertate records him as Capo di Compagnia de Musichi d'Instrumenti da fiato in Venetia, indicating that he led a Venetian company of piffari, a band that could include trumpets, trombones, cornetts, shawms, bagpipes, drums, recorders and viols.
The title page of the second volume (1644 edition) of the "Sonate Concertate" lists him as Musico Della Serenissima Signoria di Venetia in S. Marco, & Capo di Compagnia de Instrumenti, indicating that he worked at the great Basilica of St. Mark's where Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
was maestro di capella. Castello's use of the stile concitato (agitated style) —with quick repeated-note figures— is consistent with his association with Monteverdi.
There are records of other instrumentalists with the surname Castello working at St Mark's, and it is possible they were relatives of Dario.
Style
Of his music, 29 separate compositions survive. Castello's music is inventive and technically challenging. Strictly worked polyphonic sections alternate with dramatic recitativeRecitative
Recitative , also known by its Italian name "recitativo" , is a style of delivery in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech...
s over basso continuo, in keeping with the title of the publications "in stil moderno"; however he also uses some of the older canzona
Canzona
In the 16th century an instrumental chanson; later, a piece for ensemble in several sections or tempos...
technique, which uses short sections of highly contrasting texture, and active rather than lyrical melodic lines. Unusually for the time, Castello often specifies the instruments for each part, calling for cornett
Cornett
The cornett, cornetto or zink is an early wind instrument, dating from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was used in what are now called alta capellas or wind ensembles. It is not to be confused with the trumpet-like instrument cornet.-Construction:There are three basic types of...
i, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s, sackbutts and dulcian
Dulcian
The dulcian is a Renaissance bass woodwind instrument, with a double reed and a folded conical bore. Equivalent terms include "curtal" in English, "dulzian" in German, "bajón" in Spanish, "douçaine"' in French, "dulciaan" in Dutch, and "dulciana" in Italian....
s. That these works were still being reprinted in the 1650s attests to Castello's influence.
Works
- Sonate Concertate in Stil Moderno, Libro I, Venice, 1621
- Sonate Concertate in Stil Moderno, Libro II, Venice, 1629
- Exultate Deo, motet (1625 and 1636)
- Modern editions of the complete sonatas are published by Ut Orpheus Edizione.
- Sonate Concertate in Stil Moderno, Libro I and Libro II
Further reading
- Eleanor Selfridge-Field, Dario Castello: A Non-Existent Biography, Music and Letters, LIII/2 (1972)
- Eleanor Selfridge-Field, Venetian Instrumental Music from Gabrieli to Vivaldi, 3rd edn. Mineola NY: Dover Publications, Inc., 1994. ISBN 0-486-28151-5
Recordings
- The Floating City, His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornetts, Hyperion CDA67013.
- Viaggio Musicale, Il Giardino Armonico, Teldec 8573825362.
- Dario Castello Sonate, Ensemble La Capriola, Mieroprint EM 6005.