Costanzo 1627

Costanzo, Giovanni Battista

Fior novello libro primo (1627)

I. Overview

There are several early guitar books that present the same piece in a number of tonalities. Technically, the pieces are not in different keys, but rather in one key written for guitars of 4 different tunings: a soprano (d-g-c-e'-a'), a contralto (b-e-a-c#'-f#'), a tenor (a-d-g-b-e'), and a basso (g-c-f-a-d'). When played on guitars of these tunings, the guitarists will be playing in the same tonality. Costanzo systematically presents each of the pieces at the beginning of this book in the "keys" of G, D, F, and A (major or minor), so the actual contents of the book

Title: Fior novello libro primo. (Bologna: Nicolò Tebaldini, 1627).

Description:
88 pp. in movable type
144 pieces
Foliation: ABCDE (8ff. each except D with only 4ff.)
Page Size -- I-Bc: 21.2 cm. (width) X 29.3 cm.

II. Prefatory Material

p. [1] -- FIOR NOVELLO LIBRO PRIMO Di Concerti di diverse sonate, Cinfonie, e Correnti, Da sonare con una, con due, con tre, e con quattro Chitarre alla Spagnuola, con l'alfabetto, & dichiarationi da poterle accordare, e sonare, DI FABRITIO COSTANZO NAPOLITANO. All'illustriss. Sig. & Padron Colendissimo IL SIG. CO VERGILIO MALVEZZI SENATORE DIGNISSIMO DI BOLOGNA. . . . In Bologna, Per Nicolò Tebaldini 1627, Nella Simia, Con Licenza de' superiori. [title page]

p. (2) -- [blank]

p. (3) -- Illustriss. Sig. Padron Colendiss. . . . [dedication to Vergilio Malvezzi; signed "Di Bologna il dì 12. d'Agosto 1627 . . ."]

p. (4) -- A gli studiosi di tal professione. . . . [Costanzo states that the pieces are for 1 to 4 guitarists; he also explains barre chords shifted up the neck and given numbers and differentiates between the two C minor chords L and .L. (unlike earlier books, Costanzo uses both chords in the actual pieces, with the .L. chord used more as a tonic and the L variation mainly as a iv of G minor):]

G3.L.
53
51
40
34
33

p. 5 -- [tuning for 1-4 guitars; alfabeto:] Soprano (Secondo Tuono): d-g-c-e'-a', Contralto (Terzo Tuono): b-e-a-c#'-f#', Tenor (Primo Tuono): a-d-g-b-e', and Basso (Quarto Tuono): g-c-f-a-d'

 

+ABCDEFGHIKLMNO
223000231013131
202020233231110
000222123230310
031313013223413
030201011013343

 

PQRSTVXG3H3M3N3P3K3E1E2E3E4E5
342244253355312345
344224455335512345
134422445533534567
124522335633445678
122452233563323456

[Only the E4 chord is not used. Other chords used in the tablature:]

G5H4H5H6K4K5M5M6N4N5N6P5P6
7456455667878
7678675645678
6678677845656
5678568945656
545645787895

III. Notation

Tablature: Alfabeto, stroke, and meter signs are used, as well as barlines, but there are no rhythm signs. One of the notational characteristics of this book is that the alfabeto signs are often attached to an upstroke (apparently a convenience of the type-setter and having nothing to do with the actual performance of the music). The reader should be aware that many chords need to be moved to the left over an appropriate downstroke.

Dots beside a downstroke appear to indicate that the following upstroke should take a full beat, rather than a half beat. Slurs used below upstrokes indicate that the alfabeto chord changes on the upstroke.

Instrument: 5-course guitar

IV. Indices

Title information in brackets [ ] is editorial; information in parentheses

Index of Pieces (for 1, 2, or 4 guitars):

PageTitleKeyMeterInstrumentation
p. 6Passacagli semplici di tutto l'Alfabetto (di tutte le lettere dell'Alfabetto)e3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]G3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]C3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]D3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]a3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]d3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]E3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]F3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]Bb3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]A3/[4]1 guitar
p. 6[Passacaglio semplice]bb3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]c3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]Eb3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]Ab3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]g3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]f3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]F#3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]B3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]E3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]A3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]f#3/[4]1 guitar
p. 7[Passacaglio semplice]b3/[4]1 guitar
p. 8Bergamasca 1o Tuono Note 1GC4 guitars
p. 8[Bergamasca] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 9Bergamasca 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. 9[Bergamasca] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. 10Villan di Spagna 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. 10[Villan di Spagna] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. 11Villan di Spagna 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. 11[Villan di Spagna] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 12Zarabanda 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. 12[Zarabanda ] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. 13Zarabanda 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. 13[Zarabanda ] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 14Ciacona 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. 14[Ciacona] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. 15Ciacona 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. 15[Ciacona] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 16Ricercate 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. 16[Ricercata] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. 17Ricercata 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. 17[Ricercata] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 18Folia 1o Tuonog3/[4]4 guitars
p. 18[Folia] 2o Tuonod3/[4]4 guitars
p. [19]Folia 3o Tuonof3/[4]4 guitars
p. [19][Folia] 4o Tuonoa3/[4]4 guitars
p. [20]Gagliarda 1o TuonoG[3/2]4 guitars
p. [20][Gagliarda] 2o TuonoD[3/2]4 guitars
p. 21Gagliarda 3o TuonoF[3/2]4 guitars
p. 21[Gagliarda] 4o TuonoA[3/2]4 guitars
p. 22Ruggiero 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. 22[Ruggiero] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 23Ruggiero 3o TuonoF[C]4 guitars
p. 23[Ruggiero] 4o TuonoA[C]4 guitars
p. [24]--Tripla di RuggieroG3/[4]4 guitars
p. [24]--[Tripla di Ruggiero] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. [25]--Tripla di Ruggiero 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. [25]--[Tripla di Ruggiero] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 26Tenor di Napoli 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. 26[Tenor di Napoli] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 27Tenor di Napoli 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. 27[Tenor di Napoli] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. 28--Tripla del Tenor di Napoli 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. 28--[Tripla del Tenor di Napoli] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
[p. 29]--Tripla del Tenor di Napoli 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
[p. 29]--[Tripla del Tenor di Napoli] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
[p. 30]Tordiglione 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
[p. 30][Tordiglione] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 31Tordiglione 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. 31[Tordiglione] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. 32Moresca 1o Tuonog3/[4]4 guitars
p. 32[Moresca] 2o Tuonod3/[4]4 guitars
p. 33Moresca 3o Tuonof3/[4]4 guitars
p. 33[Moresca] 4o Tuonoa3/[4]4 guitars
p. 34(Altre Moresche) Moresca 1o TuonogC > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 34[Moresca] 2o TuonodC > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 35Moresca 3o TuonofC > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 35[Moresca] 4o TuonoaC > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 36Calata di Fiorenza 1o Tuonog3/[4]4 guitars
p. 36[Calata di Fiorenza] 2o Tuonod3/[4]4 guitars
[p. 37]Calata di Fiorenza 3o Tuonof3/[4]4 guitars
[p. 37][Calata di Fiorenza] 4o Tuonoa3/[4]4 guitars
p. 38Pavaniglia 1o TuonogC4 guitars
p. 38[Pavaniglia] 2o TuonodC4 guitars
p. 39Pavaniglia 3o TuonofC4 guitars
p. 39[Pavaniglia] 4o TuonoaC4 guitars
p. 40--Tripla della Pavaniglia 1o Tuonog3/[4]4 guitars
p. 40--[Tripla della Pavaniglia] 2o Tuonod3/[4]4 guitars
p. 41--Tripla della Pavaniglia 3o Tuonof3/[4]4 guitars
p. 41--[Tripla della Pavaniglia] 4o Tuonoa3/[4]4 guitars
p. 42Favorita 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. 42[Favorita] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 43Favorita 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. 43[Favorita] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. [44]--Tripla della Favorita 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. [44]--[Tripla della Favorita] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. 45--Tripla della Favorita 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. 45--[Tripla della Favorita] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 46Spagnoletta 1o Tuonog3/[4]4 guitars
p. 46[Spagnoletta] 2o Tuonod3/[4]4 guitars
p. 47Spagnoletta 3o Tuonof3/[4]4 guitars
p. 47[Spagnoletta] 4o Tuonoa3/[4]4 guitars
p. 48Aria della Monica 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. 48[Aria della Monica] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 49Aria della Monica 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. 49[Aria della Monica] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. 50Romanesca in contrapunto 1o Tuonog[3/2]4 guitars
p. 50[Romanesca in contrapunto] 2o Tuonod[3/2]4 guitars
p. 51Romanesca in contrapunto 3o Tuonof[3/2]4 guitars
p. 51[Romanesca in contrapunto] 4o Tuonoa[3/2]4 guitars
p. [52]Ballo del Gran Duca 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. [52][Ballo del Gran Duca] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. 53Ballo del Gran Duca 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. 53[Ballo del Gran Duca] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. [54]--Tripla del Ballo del Gran Duca 1o TuonoG3/[4]4 guitars
p. [54]--[Tripla del Ballo del Gran Duca] 2o TuonoD3/[4]4 guitars
p. 55--Tripla del Ballo del Gran Duca 3o TuonoF3/[4]4 guitars
p. 55--[Tripla del Ballo del Gran Duca] 4o TuonoA3/[4]4 guitars
p. 56Pass'e mezo per b mollo . . . in contrapunto 1o TuonogC4 guitars
p. 56[Pass'e mezo per b mollo] 2o TuonodC4 guitars
p. [57]Pass'e mezo per b mollo 3o TuonofC4 guitars
p. [57][Pass'e mezo per b mollo] 4o TuonoaC4 guitars
p. 58Pass'e mezo per b quadro . . . in contrapunto 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. 58[Pass'e mezo per b quadro] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. [59]Pass'e mezo per b quadro 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. [59][Pass'e mezo per b quadro] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. 60Pavana gagliarda di Spagna 1o TuonoGC4 guitars
p. 60[Pavana gagliarda di Spagna] 2o TuonoDC4 guitars
p. [61]Pavana gagliarda di Spagna 3o TuonoFC4 guitars
p. [61][Pavana gagliarda di Spagna] 4o TuonoAC4 guitars
p. 62Tenor à Fuga 1o TuonogC4 guitars
p. 62[Tenor à Fuga] 2o TuonodC4 guitars
p. 63Tenor à Fuga 3o TuonofC4 guitars
p. 63[Tenor à Fuga] 4o TuonoaC4 guitars
p. 64Gallaria d'Amore 1o TuonogC > [3/2] > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 64[Gallaria d'Amore] 2o TuonodC > [3/2] > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 65Gallaria d'Amore 3o TuonofC > [3/2] > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 65[Gallaria d'Amore] 4o TuonoaC > [3/2] > 3/[4]4 guitars
p. 66Gagliarda di Trapolino 1o Tuonog3/[4]4 guitars
p. 66[Gagliarda di Trapolino] 2o Tuonod3/[4]4 guitars
p. 67Gagliarda di Trapolino 3o Tuonof3/[4]4 guitars
p. 67[Gagliarda di Trapolino] 4o Tuonoa3/[4]4 guitars
p. 68Cinfonia 1o Tuonog[3/2]2 guitars
p. 69[Cinfonia] 2o Tuonod[3/2]2 guitars
p. 70Cinfonia (altre) 1o Tuonog[3/2]2 guitars
p. [71][Cinfonia] 2o Tuonod[3/2]2 guitars
p. 72Cinfonie da sonar con due chittaregC2 guitars
p. 73[Cinfonia] 2o TuonodC2 guitars
p. [74]Passacagli Passeggiati in contrapunto (per O) da sonate con una chitara solag3/[4]1 guitar
p. 75Passacagli Passeggiatti in contrapunto (per E)d3/[4]1 guitar
p. 76Passacagli Passeggiati in contrapunto (per P)f3/[4]1 guitar
p. 77Passacagli Passeggiati in contrapunto (per D)a3/[4]1 guitar
p. 78Passacagli Passeggiati in contrapunto (per +)e3/[4]1 guitar
p. 79Passacagli Passeggiati in contrapunto (per X)b3/[4]1 guitar
p. 80Corrente detta la Malvezzag3/[4]1 guitar
p. 81Corrente detta la Nogarollag3/[4]1 guitar
p. 82Gagliarda detta la GhisilieraD[3/2]1 guitar
p. 83Cinfonia detta la VignataFC1 guitar
p. 84Corrente detta la LittaGC1 guitar
p. 84Cinfonia detta la Fagnanac[3/2]1 guitar
p. 85Corrente detta la RANUCCIAg3/[4]1 guitar
p. 86Corrente detta la Gozadinad3/[4]1 guitar
p. 86(Altra) Corrente detta la Spinolag3/[4]1 guitar
p. 87Corrente detta la LazaraF3/[4]1 guitar

Notes:

1. Here begins the first of the pieces for 4 guitars in different tunings. Return to text

Index of Genres:

The following chart summarizes the solo guitar contents of the book by genre. Major genres are given by the form used in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2d ed., with the forms actually used in the book in parentheses. Lesser known titles are grouped under "miscellaneous dances" and "songs." Rhythmic variations and rotte are considered part of the main work.

Genres:totalmajorminormeter
Passacaglia (Passacaglio, Passacaglio passeggiati in contraputo)2813153/[4]
Galliard (Gagliarda)954[3/2]
Moresca8084 in 3/[4] and 4 in C
Passamezzo (Pass'e mezo)844C
Sinfonia (Cinfonia, Cinfonie)8173 in C, 1 in [3/2] and 4 in [3/4]
Corrente7253/[4]
Ballo del Gran Duca440C
Bergamasca440C
Calata4043/[4]
Chaconne (Ciacona)4403/[4]
Favorita440C
Folia4043/[4]
Fugue (Tenor à Fuga)404C
miscellaneous dances . . . (Tenor di Napoli)440C
miscellaneous songs . . . (Gallaria d'Amore)404C
Monica (Aria della Monica)440C
Pavan (Pavana gagliarda di Spagna)440C
Pavaniglia404C
Ricercare (Ricercata)4403/[4]
Romanesca404[3/2]
Ruggiero440C
Sarabande (Zarabanda)4403/[4]
Spagnoletta4043/[4]
Tourdion (Tordiglione)440C
Villano (Villan di Spagna)4403/[4]
Totals:14473713/[4] = 67
C = 59
3/[2] = 18

Index of Keys Used:

Keys used in the book; an * indicates that the key is only used in a passacaglia. Note that the pitch is relative and that since the guitarist was using tablature, there was no need to think in terms of traditional key signatures.

A major16 A minor13
B flat major1* B flat minor1*
B major1* B minor2*
C major1* C minor2
C sharp major0 C sharp minor0
D major16 D minor17
E flat major1* E flat minor0
E major2* E minor2*
F major17 F minor13
F sharp major1* F sharp minor1*
G major16 G minor20
A flat major1* A flat minor0

Index of Names:

COSTANZO, Fabritio [composer]
FIOR NOVELLO LIBRO PRIMO Di Concerti . . . DI FABRITIO COSTANZO NAPOLITANO. . . . / p. (1) [title page]

[dedication signed:] Di Bologna il dì 12. d'Agosto 1627 . . . / p. (3)

Corrente di Fabritio Costanzo / pp. 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, (86), and (87)

FAGNANO, Carlo
Al Molto Illustre Sig. mio, & Padron Oservandiss. IL SIG. CARLO FAGNANO. Cinfonia detta la FAGNANA. / p. 84

GHISILIERI, Antonio
All'Illustriss. Sig. & Padron Colendiss. IL SIG. ANTONIO GHISILIERI. Gagliarda detta la Ghisiliera / p. 82

GOZZADINI, Bonifatio
Al Molt'Illust. Sig. & Padron Osservandissimo IL SIG. BONIFATIO GOZZADINI. Corrente detta la GOZADINA / p. (86)

LAZARO, Gio. Erigo
Al Mol. Illust. Sig. mio & Padron Osservandiss. IL SIG. GIO. ERIGO LAZARO. Corrente detta la LAZARA. / p. (87)

LITTA, Gieronimo
Al Molto Illustre Sig. mio, & Padron Osservandiss. IL SIG. CO. GIERONIMO LITTA. Corrente detta la LITTA / p. 84

MALVEZZI, Vergilio [dedicatee]
. . . All'Illustriss. Sig. & Padron Colendissimo IL SIG. CO VERGILIO MALVEZZI SENATORE DISNISSIMO DI BOLOGNA. / p. (1) [t.p.]

All'Illustriss. Sig. & Padron Colendissimo IL SIG. CO. VERGILIO MALVEZZI. Corrente detta la MALVEZZA / p. 80

NOGAROLLA, Lodovico
All'Illustriss. Sig. & Padron Colendiss. IL SIG. CO. LODOVICO NOGAROLLA. Corrente detta la NOGAROLLA / p. 81

RANUCCI, Gieronimo
All'Illustriss. Sig. & Padron Colendiss. IL SIG. CO. GIERONIMO RANU[C]CI. Corrente detta la RANUCCIA / p. 85

SPINOLA, Gio. Andrea
Al Molt'Illustre Sig. & Padron Osservandissimo IL SIG. GIO. ANDREA SPINOLA. Corrente detta la SPINOLA / p. (86)

TEBALDINI, Nicolò [printer]
In BOLOGNA, Per Nicolò Tebaldini 1627. Nella Simia, . . . / p. (1) [title page]

VIGNATI, Tomaso
Al Mol. Illustre Sig. & Padron Osservandiss. IL SIG. TOMASO VIGNATI. Cinfonia detta la VIGNATA. / p. 83

V. Bibliography

Boye, Gary R. "Giovanni Battista Granata and the Development of Printed Guitar Music in Seventeenth-Century Italy" (diss., Duke Univeristy, 1995).

Hudson, Richard. Passacaglio and Ciaccona: From Guitar Music to Italian Keyboard Variations in the 17th Century (Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Research Press, 1981).

Répertoire international des sources musicales: Einzeldrucke vor 1800. RISM A/I [C 4227

Tyler, James, and Paul Sparks. The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002): 60, 86, 184.

Weidlich, Joseph. "Battuto Performance Practice in Early Italian Guitar Music." Journal of the Lute Society of America 11 (1978): 63-86.

VI. Exemplars

I-Bc = Italy: Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale G. B. Martini (visited in 1991-1992)

Condition: somewhat tattered with mildewed and yellowed pages; still very legible; p. 39 torn and patched at some point

Binding: very weak; grey cardboard cover torn up to half the length of the spine; edges very worn (from flipping the book over? 4 gtr. pieces) and folded back at the corners

Pages in reversed order (misplaced): 20 19 . . . 25 24 . . . 30 29 . . .

Pages misnumbered (but in correct order): 12 13 [14] 12 . . . 36 36 [37] . . . 43 45 [44] 45 . . . 51 61 [52] 53 . . 53 55 [54] 55 . . . 56 56 [57] 58 58 [59] 60 52 [61] 62 . . . 70 74 [71] 72 73 75 [74] 75

Manuscript additions:
Cover -- tape: "Z.28 1 vol." "Costanzo Fabrizio / Fior novello / Sonate per la chitarra / Libro Primo. Bologna 1627" [ink?] ; to right: "247" [?; partially erased]

p. (1) -- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTECA DEL LICEO MUSICALE DI BOLOGNA"
p. 4 -- "Avertiscano ch[e] il 1.2.3., et 4. tuono s'intendono Tenor, Soprano, Contralto, e Basso havendo errato il Copista."

p. 13 -- l.2, m.2: C? >> B D? >> G [erased]
p. 23 -- l.7, m.2: B >> R
p. 26 -- l.9, m.3: 2 upstrokes added (4th and 6th strokes)
p. 27 -- l.1, m.3: upstroke added (4th stroke)
p. 72 -- l.5, m.1: repeat added
p. 75 -- l.2, m.2, last chord: 5 added to K
p. 82 -- l.5, m.2: repeat erased
p. 84 -- ll.2-3, m.1: repeat added
p. 85 -- l.2, m.2: H5 >> H3; l.5, m.1: repeat added; l.5, m.1: M >> M3; l.6, m.1: M3 [5?] >> M [erased]; l.7, m.1: K >> K3
p. (86) -- l.2, m.1: repeat added
p. (88) -- Black stamp: "LICEO MUSICALE G.B. MARTINI BIBLIOGRAFICO BOLOGNA"


© Copyright Gary R. Boye 1995–2024

© Copyright Gary R. Boye 1995–2022

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