Granata, Giovanni Battista
Nuova Scielta (1651)
I. Overview
This is Granata's Op. 3 and his second engraved tablature. The microfilm in which it is available is almost illegible, but the music is quite interesting, with several suites and two different scordature . . .
Title: Nuova scielta di capricci armonici e suonate musicali in vari tuoni . . . Opera Terza. (Bologna: n.p, 1651).
Description:
(1) + 62 pp., mostly engraved (recto/verso); pp. 2-8 movable type
50 pieces
Foliation: (movable type: 1 fascicle of 4ff.)
Page Size -- I-Bc: 27.5 cm. (width) X 19 cm.
Engraved Plate Size -- I-Bc: 22.1 cm. X 13 cm.
II. Prefatory Material
f. 1r -- [engraved plate with scroll; iconography: 1 woman playing guitar, 4 cherubs, 1 additional guitar, 2 books; Guitarist: seated, lower bout on right thigh, left hand around the 7th fret, 7 pegs on guitar, flat back? (very dark); other guitar face down on table, arched back with cloth strap tied to peghead and end pin, 3 pegs visible, very thin body; music books all illegible; coat of arms on top 3 fleur-d-l's, castle, crowned eagle:]
[on scroll:] NUOVA SCIELTA Di Capricci Armonici E Suonate Musicali, In vari Tuoni Di GIO. BATTA GRANATA, Opera Terza. Dedicata all'Illustriss. Sig.r IPPOLITO CATTANEO
f. 1v -- [blank]
p. (1) -- NUOVA SCIELTA DI CAPRICCI ARMONICI E SUONATE MUSICALI IN VARI TUONI DI GIO. BATTISTA GRANATA, OPERA TERZA. DEDICATA ALL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIG. IPPOLITO CATTANEO [movable type t.p.]
p. (2) -- [blank]
pp. 3-4 -- ILLUSTRISSIMO SIGNORE SIG. E PADRON COLENDISS. . . . [Dedication]
p. 5 -- S'Allude alle felicissime Nozze DELL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIG. IPPOLITO CATTANEO, E CATTARINA ZAMBECCARI. Nella Dedicatione della presente Opera. [Dedication and poem to Ippolito Cattaneo upon the occasion of his marriage to Cattarina Zambeccari.]
pp. 6-7 -- A CHI LEGGE / A li Professori della Chitarra Spagnuola. . . . [Brief introduction for guitarists; Granata mentions especially the sinfonia with basso continuo accompaniment (p. 53) and refers readers to his Op. 1 for instruction on tablature and technique.]
p. 8 -- TAVOLA DELL'OPERA. [complete index]
[Following p. 8 in the F-C copy only, is this engraving:]
The instrument on the left is one of the the only known representations of a guitar with extended bass strings, the chitarra atiorbata. It appears to have been reversed in the engraving process (a common occurrence). Image courtesy of the Bibliothèque Inguimbertine archives et musées, Carpentras, France, and reproduced with their permission.. Special thanks to Jean-François Delmas for help in securing this image.
Following is the image above of the guitar inverted, as it would appear right-handed:
No alfabeto chart; hypothetical usage based on Op.1:
| + | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K2 | L | M | N | O | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| &3 | G2 | G3 | G5 | H2 | H3 | H5 | H7 | K3 | K5 | K7 | M2 | M3 | M4 | M5 | M7 | M8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| N2 | N3 | N4 | N5 | N6 | N7 | N9 | P2 | P3 | P5 | P7 | H+ | H2+ | H3+ | H5+ | H7+ |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| M2+ | M3+ | M4+ | M5+ | M7+ | M9+ | R+ |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 5 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 2 |
The following chords are used in alfabeto names only:
| C3 | I5+ | L+ | R3 | R5 | T | T5 | Z |
| 3? | 5? | 3? | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7? | 3 |
| 3? | 7? | 5? | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5? | 5 |
| 5? | 7? | 5? | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5? | 5 |
| 6? | 8? | 3? | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5? | 5 |
| 5? | 5? | 3? | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8? | 3 |
III. Notation
Tablature: Alfabeto and Italian tablature with measure lines, meter signs, and rhythm signs.
The following example (p. 60) shows how Granata used the patron's name in alfabeto letters (Ippolito Cattaneo):
Range (highest fret used on each course):
| 5th course | 10th fret (11 in chords) |
| 4th course | 10th fret |
| 3rd course | 12th fret |
| 2nd course | 12th fret |
| 1st course | 13th fret |
Left-hand ornaments used: trillo (.T. )/vibrato (SS or #)
[pp. 53-59 contain mixed tablature with basso continuo (bass clef and figures)]
Instrument: 5-course guitar
IV. Indices
There are several suites in a variety of different tonalities, as well as several more extended passacagli and some smaller works.
Index of Pieces (all but last piece for solo guitar):
| Page | Title | Key | Meter | Taken from Granata c.1650: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| p. 3 | Preludio | D | ¢ | |
| p. 4 | -- (Sua) Alemanda | D | ¢ | |
| p. 5 | -- (Sua) Corrente (Corente) | D | 3 | p. 18 (with additions) |
| p. 6 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | D | 3 | |
| p. 7 | Toc(c)ata | g | ¢ | |
| p. 8 | -- (Sua) Alemanda | g | C | |
| p. 9 | -- (Sua) Corrente | g | 3 | p. 11 |
| p. 10 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | g | 3 | |
| p. 11 | Toc(c)ata | a | ¢ > 3 | |
| p. 13 | -- (Sua) Alemanda | a | ¢ | |
| p. 14 | -- (Sua) Cor(r)ente | a | 3 | |
| p. 15 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | a | 3 | |
| p. 16 | Capric(c)i di Ciacone | C | 3 | |
| p. 17 | -- (Sua) Alemanda | C | ¢ | |
| p. 18 | -- (Sua) Correnta (Corrente) | C | 3 | |
| p. 19 | Alemanda Francese in Brando | C | C > 3 | p. 17 (with altered title) |
| p. 20 | -- (Sua) Corrente Del Brando | C | 3 | p. 16 |
| p. 21 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | C | 3 | p. 15 |
| p. 21 | Ciaccone | C | 3 | p. 15 |
| p. 22 | Preludio | d | ¢ | |
| p. 23 | -- (Sua) Alemanda | d | ¢ | |
| p. 24 | -- (Sua) Cor(r)ente | d | 3 | |
| p. 25 | -- (Altra) Corrente | d | 3 | p. 10 |
| p. 26 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | d | 3 | p. 20 |
| p. 27 | -- (Altra) Sarabanda con Passacagli e seguita | d | 3 | |
| p. 28 | -- (Passachali diversi) | d | [3] | |
| p. 31 | -- Passacalli seguita | d | 3 | p. 5 |
| p. 31, 34 | [Passacalli] | a | 3 | p. 5 |
| p. 32 | Capricci di Chiaccona | C? | 3 | pp. 3-4, 6 (with additions) |
| p. 35 | Pasacali per A | G | 3 | |
| p. 36 | [Pasacali] | e | 3 | |
| p. 36 | [Pasacali] | D | 3 | |
| p. 36 | Pasacali per X | b | 3 | p. 8 (with additions) |
| p. 39 | Preludio per nuova Acordatura [A-C#-F#-B-e] | A | ¢ | |
| p. 40 | -- Passacagli | A | 3 | |
| p. 41 | -- (Sua) Corrente | A | 3 | |
| p. 41 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | A | 3 | |
| p. 42 | (Preludio in) Toccata in (differente) Acordaura Francese [A-D-G-Bb-d] | g | ¢ | |
| p. 43 | -- (Sua) Alemanda Francese | g | C | |
| p. 44 | -- (Sua) Corrente Francese | g | 3 | p. 21 |
| p. 45 | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | g | 3 | |
| p. 46 | Pas(s)acagli [standard tuning . . . ] | Bb | 3 | |
| p. 47 | -- (Suo) Brando | Bb | ¢ | |
| p. 48 | -- (Sua) Cor(r)ente | Bb | 3 | |
| p. 49 | Toc(c)ata | b | ¢ | |
| p. 50 | -- Passacagli (-) | b | 3 | |
| p. 51 | -- (Sua) Cor(r)ente | b | 3 | |
| p. [52] | -- (Sua) Sarabanda | b | 3 | p. 13 |
| p. 53 | Sinfonia à dui [guitar and basso continuo] | a | C | |
| p. 60 | Capric(c)io obligato alle lettere del nome (d'Ippolito Cattaneo)Note 1 | d | ¢ | |
| p. 61 | Capricio obligato alle lettere del nome (di Cattarina Zambeccari)Note 1 | G | ¢ |
Notes:
1. The alfabeto chords in this and the next piece spell out the patron's name: I-P-P3-O-L+-I-T-O C-A-T5-T-A-N2-E-O and C-A-T-E-R3-I-N2-A Z-A-N5-B-E-C3-A-R5-I+. Return to text
The following chart summarizes the 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.
| Genres: | total | major | minor | C | 3 | ¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrente | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Passacaglia (Passacaglio) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Sarabande (Sarabanda) | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Allemande (Alemanda, Alemanda Francese) | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Capriccio | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Toccata | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Prelude (Preludio) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Brando | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Chaconne (Ciaccone) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sinfonia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 50 | 22 | 28 | 4 | 33 | 13 |
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 major | 4 | A minor | 5 | |
| B flat major | 3 | B flat minor | 0 | |
| B major | 0 | B minor | 5 | |
| C major | 8 | C minor | 0 | |
| C sharp major | 0 | C sharp minor | 0 | |
| D major | 5 | D minor | 8 | |
| E flat major | 0 | E flat minor | 0 | |
| E major | 0 | E minor | 1* | |
| F major | 0 | F minor | 0 | |
| F sharp major | 0 | F sharp minor | 0 | |
| G major | 2 | G minor | 9 | |
| A flat major | 0 | A flat minor | 0 |
Index of Names:
CATTENEO, Ippolito [patron] NUOVA SCIELTA Di Capricci Armonici . . . Di GIO: BATTA GRANATA Opera Terza. Dedicata all'Illustriss. Sig.r IPPOLITO CATTANEO / f. 1r [dedication to]
NUOVA SCIELTA DI CAPRICCI ARMONICI E SUONATE MUSICALI IN VARI TUONI DI GIO. BATTISTA GRANATA OPERA TERZA DEDICATA ALL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIG. IPPOLITO CATTANEO / p. (1)
[Dedication to] / p. 3
[Poem for the wedding of] . . . S'Allude alle felicissime Nozze DELL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIG. IPPOLITO CATTANEO, E CATTARINA ZAMBECCARI Nella Dedicatione della presente Opera. / p. 5
Capric(c)io obligato alle lettere del nome (d'Ippolito Cattaneo) [IPP3OL+ITO CAT5TAN2EO] / p. 60 [name spelled out in alfabeto letters]
FOSCARINI, [Giovanni Paolo] . . . troverai che in questo mio terzo libro sarò molto differente dal prì ìmo, massimamente nelle compartitioni, quali non mi curai di mettere in rigore di battuta, accommodandomi all'essempio del Foscarini, è di molti altri valenti autori . . . / p. 6
GRANATA, Giovan Battista [composer] NUOVA SCIELTA Di Capricci Armonici E Suonate Musicali In vari Tuoni Di GIO: BATTA GRANATA Opera Terza. / f. 1r
NUOVA SCIELTA DI CAPRICCI ARMONICI E SUONATE MUSICALI IN VARI TUONI DI GIO. BATTISTA GRANATA OPERA TERZA DEDICATA ALL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIG. IPPOLITO CATTANEO / p. (1)
[Dedication signed:] Bologna il [blank] Settembre 1651. Di V.S. Illustrissima . . . Divostiss. ed Humiliss. Servitore Gio. Battista Granata. / p. 4
GUASTALLA, Duca di [Noting patrons of former works (Op. 2)] . . . è la seconda [opera], all'Eccellentiss. Duca di Guastalla . . . / p. 6
TOSCANA, Lorenzo di [Noting patron of Op. 1] . . . havendola già sufficientemente autenticata la mia prima opera, dedicata al Serenissimo Principe D. Lorenzo di Toscana . . . / p. 6
ZAMBECCARI, Cattarina [bride of patron] [Poem for] . . . S'Allude alle felicissime Nozze DELL'ILLUSTRISSIMO SIG. IPPOLITO CATTANEO, E CATTARINA ZAMBECCARI Nella Dedicatione della presente Opera. / p. 5
Capricio obligato alle lettere del nome (di Cattarina Zambeccari) [CATER3IN2A ZAN5BEC3AR5I+] / p. 61 [name spelled out in alfabeto letters]
V. Bibliography
Boye, Gary R. "Giovanni Battista Granata and the Development of Printed Guitar Music in Seventeenth-Century Italy" (diss., Duke Univeristy, 1995).
Boye, Gary R. "Performing Seventeenth-Century Italian Guitar Music: the Question of an Appropriate Stringing" in Performance on Lute, Guitar and Vihuela: Historical Practice and Modern Interpretation, ed. V.A. Coelho (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997).
Frisoli, Patrizia. "The Museo Stradivariano in Cremona." Galpin Society Journal XXIV (1971): 33-50.
Hall, Monica. "The Chitarra Atiorbata and Guitare Theorbée [with "12 Pieces for the Guitarre Théorbée from Pieces de Guitarre de differendes Autheures recueillis par Henry François de Gallot (GB-Ob Ms.Mus.Sch.C94)"].
Hall, Monica. "The Chittarra atiorbata and the Guittare theorbée: A Reappraisal." Early Music 39:1 (2011): 25-34.
Répertoire international des sources musicales: Einzeldrucke vor 1800. RISM A/I [G 3392 and [G 3392.
Strizich, Robert. "Reviews, Books: Giovanni Battista Granata, Capricci armonici sopra la chittarriglia spagnuola (Bologna 1646) [SPES facsimile]." Journal of the Lute Society of America XII (1979): 87-93.
Tyler, James, and Paul Sparks. The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002): 74, 89.
VI. Exemplars
F-C = France: Carpentras, Bibliothèque Inguimbertine et Musée de Carpeentras
Not yet visited.
I-Bc = Italy: Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale G. B. Martini (visited in 1991-1992)
Condition: the engraved areas of this unique copy are dark with much ink bleeding through from the other side of the page (very visible on the microfilm); page edges very soft; water/mildew damage evident
Binding: grey rag paper (like Op. 2) taped at binding, very loose and ragged
Manuscript additions:
cover (tape): "AA.5/1 Intavol."
ink: "Granata Gio: Battista / Nuova scelta di Capricci Armonici.
Opera 3.a Bologna 1651"; top right, faded ink: "2478"
f. 1r [t.p.]-- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTECA DEL LICEO MUSICALE DI BOLOGNA"
corrigenda in ink:
p. 4 -- st.2, m.1, bt.1: 1/4 note > dotted 1/8; st.4, m.1, bt.4: 3/5th > 4/5th
p. 5 -- st.5, m.3, bt.1: K > K2
p. 6 -- st.4, m.1, bt.2: ?1/4th > 2/4th
p. 18 -- st.2, last note: 1/8 note XXX out; st.3, m.1, bt.1: 0/4th added (very faint)
p. 28 -- st.2, m.7: H3 > H3+
p. 29 -- st.4, m.4: K > K3
[pp. 29-30 -- st.5, st.1-2: sloppier hand; added later?; also pp. 34, 37 st.1-2]
p. 41 -- st.2, m.4: 2 > 3
p. 42 -- m.2: ?7 > 5/4th
p. 45 -- st.3, m.3: 1/4 note > 1/64 note [?!]
p. 46 -- st.3, m.5: 1/4 note > 1/8 note
p. 47 -- st.5, mm.2-3: 3 > 4 [blurred], 1 > 3, 3 > 5?, 1 > 3? [2?]
p. 61 -- stamp: "LICEO MUSICALE G.B. MARTINI BIBLIOTECA BOLOGNA"; ink: [initials; L.Z.??]
A copy of this exemplar is available in microfilm.
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