Carlo Cecere
Encyclopedia
Carlo Cecere was an Italian
composer
of operas, concertos and instrumental
duets
including, for examples, some mandolin
duets and a concerto for mandolin. Cecere worked in the transitional period between the Baroque
and Classical eras of music.
and died in Naples
where he lies buried in the chapel of the Congregazione dei Musici di S. Maria la Nuova. But it is not even known which instrument(s) he played by preference. According to some sources, he was mainly a violin
ist -- he was a violinist for sure in the monastery of the Carmine in Naples—whereas other sources believe he was primarily a flautist
.
' s satirical
portrayal of monastic
life was considered a buffoonish mockery. It was the first comic opera
written specifically for a monastic audience.
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
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of operas, concertos and instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
duets
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
including, for examples, some mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
duets and a concerto for mandolin. Cecere worked in the transitional period between the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and Classical eras of music.
Life
Surprisingly little is known about his life, given that he lived in the 18th century. It is known that Cecere was born in GrottoleGrottole
Grottole is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the region of Basilicata in southern Italy.-Geography:Grottole is located in the Province of Matera, in the Region of Basilicata, in southern Italy...
and died in Naples
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...
where he lies buried in the chapel of the Congregazione dei Musici di S. Maria la Nuova. But it is not even known which instrument(s) he played by preference. According to some sources, he was mainly a 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....
ist -- he was a violinist for sure in the monastery of the Carmine in Naples—whereas other sources believe he was primarily a flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
.
Music
Cecere set to music at least two librettos by Pietro Trinchera, including La tavernola abentorosa. Trinchera, not Cecere, was punished because La tavernola abentorosaSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
portrayal of monastic
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
life was considered a buffoonish mockery. It was the first comic opera
Comic opera
Comic opera denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending.Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a new operatic genre, opera buffa, emerged as an alternative to opera seria...
written specifically for a monastic audience.
Selected discography
- Italian Flute Concertos, performed by Jean-Pierre RampalJean-Pierre RampalJean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
(flute) with I Solisti Veneti conducted by Claudio Scimone: Carlo Cecere's Concerto for Flute in A major together with Eustachio Romano's Concerto for Flute in G major, Giuseppe Matteo AlbertiGiuseppe Matteo AlbertiGiuseppe Matteo Alberti was an Italian Baroque composer and violinist.-Life:...
's Concerto for Flute in F major "con sordini" and Giovanni Battista SammartiniGiovanni Battista SammartiniGiovanni Battista Sammartini was an Italian composer, organist, choirmaster and teacher. He counted Gluck among his students, and was highly regarded by younger composers including Johann Christian Bach...
's Concerto for Flute in G major. (Sony Classical SNYC 47228SK), a 1991 recording, available as of 2007. - Concerti Napoletani per Mandolino performed by Dorina Frati (mandolin) with the Symphonia Perusina: Carlo Cecere's Concerto for Mandolin together with Giuseppe Giuliano's Sinfonia for Mandolin, Strings and Basso Continuo in B flat major and his Concerto for Mandolin in G major, Domenico Gaudioso's Concerto for Mandolin in G major, and Giovanni PaisielloGiovanni PaisielloGiovanni Paisiello was an Italian composer of the Classical era.-Life:Paisiello was born at Taranto and educated by the Jesuits there. He became known for his beautiful singing voice and in 1754 was sent to the Conservatorio di S. Onofrio at Naples, where he studied under Francesco Durante, and...
's Concerto for Mandolin in E flat major. (Dynamic DYN 193), a 1999 recording, available as of 2007.
External links
- Biographical sketch of Carlo Cecere by Pasquale Totaro
- Free scores at the Mutopia ProjectMutopia projectThe Mutopia Project is a volunteer-run effort to create a library of free content sheet music, in a way similar to Project Gutenberg's library of public domain books.The music is reproduced from old scores that are out of copyright...