Giovanni Battista Fasolo
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Battista Fasolo (Asti
, c.1598 - Palermo
after 1664) was a Franciscan
friar, organist and composer.
In his middle years Fasolo was primarily known for his 1645 organ annual, which, like L'organo suonarino of Adriano Banchieri
, from the generation before him, was intended for use in small parish churches, and are much simpler than those used in Venice. In 1659 Fasolo became maestro di cappella to the Archbishop of Monreale
.
Until recently many of G. B. Fasolo's secular works were attributed to other composers, particularly the Venetian Francesco Manelli
, the composer of the first commercial operas in music history, or to a third unknown composer known as "Il Fasolo?".
However following the work of Francesco Luisi, Mariangela Donà, and Claudio Bacciagaluppi the attribution of the major works under the heading "Il Fasolo?" to G. B. Fasolo is now reasonably secure, and listed under his own entry, by Eleanor Selfridge-Field, in the current New Grove.
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
, c.1598 - Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
after 1664) was a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar, organist and composer.
In his middle years Fasolo was primarily known for his 1645 organ annual, which, like L'organo suonarino of Adriano Banchieri
Adriano Banchieri
Adriano Banchieri was an Italian composer, music theorist, organist and poet of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He founded the Accademia dei Floridi in Bologna.-Biography:...
, from the generation before him, was intended for use in small parish churches, and are much simpler than those used in Venice. In 1659 Fasolo became maestro di cappella to the Archbishop of Monreale
Monreale
Monreale is a town and comune in the province of Palermo, in Sicily, Italy, on the slope of Monte Caputo, overlooking the very fertile valley called "La Conca d'oro" , famed for its orange, olive and almond trees, the produce of which is exported in large quantities...
.
Until recently many of G. B. Fasolo's secular works were attributed to other composers, particularly the Venetian Francesco Manelli
Francesco Manelli
Francesco Manelli was a Roman Baroque composer, particularly of opera; and theorbo player. He is most well known for his collaboration with fellow Roman composer Benedetto Ferrari in bringing commercial opera to Venice...
, the composer of the first commercial operas in music history, or to a third unknown composer known as "Il Fasolo?".
However following the work of Francesco Luisi, Mariangela Donà, and Claudio Bacciagaluppi the attribution of the major works under the heading "Il Fasolo?" to G. B. Fasolo is now reasonably secure, and listed under his own entry, by Eleanor Selfridge-Field, in the current New Grove.
Extant Works
- Op.3 "Misticanza di Vigna alla Bergamasca; il Canto della Barchetta et altre cantate et ariette per Voce et Chitarra." Robletti Rome, 1627. Sole surviving copy was in the possession of Dr. Oscar Chilesotti in 1886. A facsimile of a single song "I bei guardi" from this collection is included in an article by Chilesotti- "Notes sur les tablatures de luth et de guitare" originally published in "Encyclopedie de la musique" ; edited by Albert Lavignac (1925). Part 1, vol. 2 : Italie - Allemagne, p.636-684. This is particularly interesting because figures have been added to the guitar alfabeto symbols to indicate how the accompaniment should be strummed. Reproduced at www.monicahall.co.uk/ The Baroque Guitar made Simple - Alfabeto songs.
- Il carro di Madama Lucia. Rome, 1628.(*attributed)
- Aria - Se desiate, o bella, 1629 (*attributed)
- Op.6 Second Book of Motets for 2-3 voices, with a mass for 3 voices, Naples, 1635.
- Op.8 Organ annual. Venice, 1645. Annuale che contiene tutto quello, che deve far un organista per risponder al choro tutto l'anno.
- Magnificat, Beatus vir, a 5. c.1645.(*attributed)
- Op.9 Arie spirituali morali, e indifferenti, 2-3 vv, with dialogues 3vv and two arias for solo voice. Palermo, 1659.
Recordings
- Aria Cangia, cangia tue voglie. Aria from Op.3 La barchetta passaggiera. Rome, 1627. Recorded by Beniamino GigliBeniamino GigliBeniamino Gigli was an Italian opera singer. The most famous tenor of his generation, he was renowned internationally for the great beauty of his voice and the soundness of his vocal technique. Music critics sometimes took him to task, however, for what was perceived to be the over-emotionalism...
London, 1947. - Il Fásolo? Le Poème HarmoniqueLe Poème HarmoniqueLe Poème Harmonique is a musical ensemble founded in 1998 by Vincent Dumestre to recreate and promote early music, in particular that of the 17th century. Using rare instruments such as the theorbo, the lirone, the tiorbino and the arpa tripla, Le Poème Harmonique aims to recapture the poetry of...
, dir. Vincent Dumestre Alpha-23(CD) 2004