Castello & Co: Venetian Sonatas For Winds And Stri

Kathryn Cok (harpsichord & organ), Wouter Verschuren (dulcian), Adam Woolf (alto and tenor trombone), Bjarte Eike, Aira Maria Lehtipuu (violin) & Jamie Savan (cornetto and cornetto muto)

Bertoli: Sonata fagotto VIII per fagotto solo Castello: Sonata decima terza à 4 Sonata Sesta à 2 libro 1 Sonata Decimaquinta à 4 libro 2 Sonata Ottavi Sonata duodecima a tre Sonata Undecima à 3 libro 1 Sonata Quarta Sonata Decimaquarta à 4 libro 2 (Violin, cornetto, trombone, dulcian and basso continuo) Frescobaldi: Chromatic Recercada from Fiori Musicali Marini, B: Sonata Ottava per 2 Fagotti o Tromboni Sonata Nona per 2 Fagotti o Tromboni Picchi: Sonata à 2 (Violin, dulcian and basso continuo) Scarani: Sonata decima terza a 3 bassi

Several of the composers presented on this CD were employed by the Basilica of San Marco in Venice, often working as both singers as well as instrumentalists. Dario Castello worked in Venice during the first half of the 17th century. He produced two collections of sonatas which were published in Venice in 1621 and 1629, and some of these are performed here by the specialist period music group Caecilia-Concert. The recording also includes pieces by Castello’s contemporaries Frescobaldi, Bertoli, Scarani, Picchi and Marini. Dario 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.

Price: $25.98