Calvi 1646

Calvi, Carlo [and an anonymous author]

Intavolatura di chitarra, e chitarriglia . . . (1646)

I. Overview

Calvi's book is clearly divided between strummed pieces in alfabeto (designed for the "chitarriglia") and the strict pizzicato style in Italian tablature, without strummed chords. The works are rather antiquated and simple for the 1640s, but are competent and fairly easy to sight read. This is a good book with which to begin reading original guitar tablature . . .

Title: Intavolatura di chitarra, e chitarriglia . . . da duo Eccellenti Professori. (Bologna: Giacomo Monti, 1646).

Description:
40 pp. in movable type
85 pieces
Foliation: ABCDE (4 ff. each)
Page Size I-Bc: 20.5 cm. (width) X 14.5 cm.; GB-Lbl (HIII 146): 20.7 cm. X 14.4 cm.; GB-Lbl (K465): 20.5 cm. X 14.8 cm.

II. Prefatory Material

p. (1) -- INTAVOLATURA / DI CHITARRA, E CHITARRIGLIA / Con le più necessarie, e facili Suonate à chi / si diletta di tal Professione. / Havute da duo Eccellenti Professori, e dedicate / ALL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIGNORE / IL SIG. BARTOLOMEO BOLOGNINI. // In Bologna, per Giacomo Monti. 1646. Con licenza de' Superiori. [t.p.]

p. (2) -- [woodcut]

p. 3 -- ILLUSTRISS. SIGNORE / Padron Colendissimo. . . . [dedication to Bartolomeo Bolognini]

p. 4 -- [dedication finished; signed Carlo Calvi]

p. 5 -- Lo Stampatore a chi suona. Mi sono capitate le seguenti Suonate di Chitarra, e Chitarriglia, e per essere parti di due valenthuomini, non hò voluto perder questa occasione di compiacerne il tuo orecchio. Sappile aggradire, finche ne puoì prendere, accioche non le habbi à desiderare, quando non ci saranno. E voglimi bene.

Alfabeto:

+ABCDEFGHIKLMNOP
2230002310131313
2020202332311103
0002221232303101
0313130132234131
0302010110133431

 

QRSTVXYZG3H3H5M3M5N3N5P3
4224425353535575
4422445555735355
3442244545757353
2452233535768353
2245223333557683

 

Alfabeto falso:

A*B*C*D*E*F*G*H*I*L*N*O*P*
-300000103103
-302323321101
0022212320132
0110301434131
3020000103331

The following chord letters are not used: C*, D*, E*, F*, H*, L*, N*, O*, and P*.

[Other chords used in the tablature:]

E2G2H2K2K3M2N2N7P2&H5
24223249445
24445227437
43445427217
52434527228
3222345X215

p. 6 -- Nelle Suonate, che hanno lettere segnate . . . [higher position chords, single note numbers on 1st only, lettere false sign . . .]

III. Notation

Tablature: Alfabeto only on pp. 7-24 ("per la Chitarriglia") with measure lines only, no meter or rhythm signs. Some single numbers used to indicate notes on the first course. Mixed tablature on pp. 25-39 (chitarra) without meter signs. Ornaments: .T. = trillo.

Range: (highest fret used on each course):

5th course5th fret (7th in chords)
4th course5th fret (7th in chords)
3rd course5th fret (7th in chords)
2nd course6th fret (8th in chords)
1st course7th fret (8th in chords)

Instrument: 5-course guitar

IV. Indices

Title information in brackets [ ] is editorial; information in parentheses ( ) is from the table of contents.

Index of Pieces:

PageTitleKeyMeter
Pieces for Chitarriglia:
p. 7Passacalli sopra tutto l'Alfabetoe[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]G[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]C[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]D[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]a[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]d[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]E[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]F[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]Bb[3/4]
p. 7[Passacaglia]A[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]bb[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]c[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]Eb[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]Ab[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]g[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]f[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]F#[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]B[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]E[3/4]
p. 8[Passacaglia]A[3/4]
p. 9[Passacaglia]f#[3/4]
p. 9[Passacaglia]b[3/4]
p. 9[Passacaglia]G[3/4]
p. 9[Passacaglia]C[3/4]
p. 9Ciaccone sopra A, B, C, GG[3/4]
p. 9[Ciaccona sopra B]C[3/4]
p. 9[Ciaccona sopra C]D[3/4]
p. 10[Ciaccona sopra G]F[3/4]
p. 10Folìa sopra Da[3/4]
p. 10Folìa sopra Ed[3/4]
p. 10Spagnoletto sopra Da[3/4]
p. 11Spagnoletto sopra Ed[3/4]
p. 11Rugiero sopra AG[4/4]
p. 11--Sua CorrenteG[3/4]
p. 12Villan di SpagnaF[4/4]
p. 12Rugiero sopra CD[4/4]
p. 12--Sua CorrenteD[3/4]
p. 12Pavaniglia sopra Da[4/4]
p. 13Pavaniglia sopra Ed[4/4]
p. 13Pass', e mezo per B quadro sopra AG[4/4]
p. 14Pass', e mezo sopra Da[4/4]
p. 15--Sua Gagliardaa[3/2]
p. 15Mantoanad[3/4]
p. 15--Sua Corrented[3/4]
p. 16Alemana sopra Ed[4/4]
p. 17--Sua Corrented[3/4]
p. 17Alemana sopra Og[4/4]
p. 17--Sua Correnteg[3/4]
p. 18Aria di Fiorenza sopra AG[4/4]
p. 18--Sua CorrenteG[3/4]
p. 19Aria di Fiorenza sopra GF[4/4]
p. 20--Sua CorrenteF[3/4]
p. 20Tordiglionef[4/4]
p. 21Gagliarda da ballared[3/2]
p. 21BergamascoC[4/4]
p. 22CorrenteF[3/4]
p. 22Corrented[3/4]
p. 23Sarabandae[3/4]
p. 23Bettaa[4/4]
p. 24Và pur superba vàG[4/4]
p. 24L'AntururùC[4/4]
Pieces "veramente per la Chitarra"
p. 25BergamascoD[4/4]
p. 25RugieroD[4/4]
p. 26Pavanigliad[4/4]
p. 26Spagnolettad[3/4]
p. 27Tordiglioned[4/4]
p. 27CanarioD[4/4]
p. 28Aria di FiorenzaD[4/4]
p. 29--Sua CorrenteD[3/4]
p. 30Pass' e mezoC[4/4]
p. 31--Sua GagliardaC[3/4]
p. 31SarabandaD[3/4]
p. 32Romanescad[4/4]
p. 33Ballettoa[4/4]
p. 33SarabandaD[3/4]
p. 34Alemanad[4/4]
p. 34Corrented[3/4]
p. 35Sarabandaa[3/4]
p. 36Corrente Francesea[3/4]
p. 37Và pur superba vàD[4/4]
p. 37Bertazzinab[4/4]
p. 38La ModaD[4/4]
p. 38--Sua ChiacconaD[3/4]
p. 39La mia donna (Donna) importunaC[4/4]
p. 39--Sua ChiacconaC[3/4]

 

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 (Passacalli)24159[3/4]
Corrente (Corrente, Corrente Francese)1266[3/4]
miscellaneous songs . . . (Betta, Và pur superba và, L'Antururù, La Moda, La mia donna importuna)752[4/4]
Chaconne (Ciaccone)660[3/4]
Sarabande (Sarabanda)422[3/4]
Allemande (Alemana)303[4/4]
Ballo del Gran Duca (Aria di Fiorenza)330[4/4]
Galliard (Gagliarda, Gagliarda da ballare)312[3/2]
Passamezzo (Pass',e mezzo)321[4/4]
Pavaniglia303[4/4]
Ruggiero (Rugiero)330[4/4]
Spagnoletta (Spagnoleto)303[3/4]
Bergamasca (Bergamasco)220[4/4]
Folia202[3/4]
miscellaneous dances . . . (Balletto, Mantoana)2021 in [4/4] and
1 in [3/4]
Tourdion (Tordiglione)202[4/4]
Canario110[4/4]
Romanesca101[4/4]
Villano (Villan di Spagna)110[4/4]
Totals:85473852 in [3/4],
30 in [4/4], and
3 in 3/[2]

 

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 major2* A minor10
B flat major1* B flat minor1*
B major1* B minor2
C major9 C minor1*
C sharp major0 C sharp minor0
D major14 D minor16
E flat major1* E flat minor0
E major2* E minor2
F major5 F minor2
F sharp major2 F sharp minor1*
G major9 G minor3
A flat major1 A flat minor0

 

Index of Names:

BOLOGNINI, Bartolomeo [patron]
INTAVOLATURA DI CHITARRA, E CHITARRIGLIA . . . ALL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIGNORE IL SIG. BARTOLOMEO
BOLOGNINI. . . . / p. (1) [dedication to, pp. 3-4]

CALVI, Carlo
[dedication signed:] Carlo Calvi

MONTI, Giacomo [printer]
INTAVOLATURA DI CHITARRA, E CHITARRIGLIA . . . In Bologna, per Giacomo Monti. 1646. Con licenza de' Superiori. / p. (1)

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).

Pinnell, Richard T. "Alternate Sources for the Printed Guitar Music of Francesco Corbetta (1615-1681)." Journal of the Lute Society of America IX (1976): 62-85.

Répertoire international des sources musicales: Einzeldrucke vor 1800. B/I/1 1646.14

Tyler, James, and Paul Sparks. The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002): 61, 87-88.

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

VI. Exemplars

GB-Lbl = Great Britain: London, The British Library (visited in 1992; 2 copies)

HIRSCH III 146

Condition: Yellowed pages with some stains; no major damage; ink faded in places but fairly legible

Binding: White leather (very good shape; probably modern); black letters on spine: "INTAVOLATURA DI CHITARRA -- BOLOGNA 1646"

Manuscript additions:
Spine -- green tape: "III" and "146"
Inside front cover: white tape with double-headed bird and "GER.M.SE D'ADDA."
2 added folios at front

+f. 1v -- bibliographical information in pencil about Calvi from Eitner, Wolf, etc.
+f. 2v -- pencil: "Hirsch III.146"

p. (2) -- red stamp: "B.M. HIRSCH LIBRARY" [and pp. 6, (40)]
p. 11 -- l. 4, end, ink: barline added, "fine" crossed out
p. 22 -- l. 1, m. 6+: [illegible scribbling? rhythm signs??]; m. 7: "X" above next two mm. [?]

2 added folios at back


GB-Lbl (K4b5)

Condition: Yellowed, fairly thin paper; C fascicle very dark and stained; thinner pages with bad bleeding.
Binding: Recent brown hard cover; gold letters on spine: "Intavolatura di Chitarra"; brown tape on spine: "k4b5" [twice]

Manuscript additions:
2 added folios at front
+f. 2v -- pencil: "k4b5"

p. (1) -- pencil, crossed out: "a87"
p. (2) -- red stamp: "BRITISH MUSEUM"
p. 11 -- l. 4: HAS barline and NO "Fine" [stamped correction?]
p. 13 -- l. 3, mm. 3-4 clean: B A C / A C / d d d d / d u d d /

p. 40 -- red stamp: "BRITISH MUSEUM 14 JL [18]92" pencil[?]: "/a 91 MB"
2 added folios at end

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

Condition: Very ragged page edges; mildewed; extremely thin paper. Pages 7 and 8 are missing in this copy.

Binding: Recent red imitation leather hard cover with black spine.

Manuscript additions:
Cover -- blue stamp: "X196"; added folio at front
+f. 1r -- pencil: "X196"

p. (1) -- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTECA DEL LICEO MUSICALE DI BOLOGNA" [pp. 7-8 MISSING]
p. 11 -- line 5, last measure: barline added; "Fine" crossed out
p. 13 -- l. 3, m. 2: 2 downstrokes added; m. 3: A crossed out (beat 1); C added (bt. 2); C > A (bt. 3); m. 4: A > B (bt. 1);
C > G (bt. 4)

p. 40 -- black stamp: "LICEO MUSICALE G.B. MARTINI BIBLIOTECA BOLOGNA"
1 added folio at back

A facsimile is available from Studio per Edizioni Scelte (1980), but unfortunately it was made from an incomplete copy (at the I-Bc; missing pp. 7-8). The British Library has two complete copies.


© Copyright Gary R. Boye 1995–2024

© Copyright Gary R. Boye 1995–2022

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