Over het album

Many of the composers/musicians presented on this CD were employed by the Basilica of San Marco in Venice, often working as both singers as well as instrumentalists, such as Dario Castello (fl. Venice 1st half of the 17th century). While there is little information currently available on his life and work, we can read on the title page of his editions that he was a musician at San Marco and the leader of a wind ensemble. He produced two collections of sonatas, with in total 29 works, published in Venice in 1621 and 1629. Castello’s sonatas are a reflection of the stilo moderno style of composing, with varying tempi and dramatic changes of affect. They also contain virtuosic passagework for each instrument. There were numerous reprints of Castello’s music, including one in Antwerp, indicating the popularity and continuing influence of his compositions.

With Castello & Co. the members of the Caecilia-Concert bring a fresh, dynamic approach to this groundbreaking instrumental chamber music, and demonstrate the expressive flexibility and technical fireworks this new repertoire demands from these old instruments.

The other composers, besides Castello, on this cd are:
Giuseppe Scarani (fl 1628-1642), Biagio Marini (1594 - 1663),Giovanni Antonio Bertoli (fl c1639 – 1645), Giovanni Picchi (fl 1600-25), Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583 – 1643)