Chelleri: 6 Sonate di Galanteria

Chiarizia, Luigi

96308

Fortunato Chelleri was orphaned at an early age and was brought up by his uncle, Francesco Bazzani, maestro di cappella at Piacenza Cathedral, who took care of his musical education, teaching him to compose and to play the organ and harpsichord.

From 1700 to 1703 Chelleri was cantor in the choir of Parma Cathedral; he later became chapel master, first in Florence, from 1724 in Würzburg, and from 1725 at the court of Frederick II in Kassel.

Between 1707 and 1722 he achieved fame as a composer of opera seria, completing nineteen works that were performed in Italy, Spain and Germany, so that his fame gradually spread throughout Europe.

During his stay in Germany, Chelleri wrote oratorios, cantatas, orchestral music, chamber music and keyboard music, but unfortunately most of his works have been lost.

The six sonatas on the disc are from the early 1720s, a period in history characterized by a new way of composing, known as the 'Sonate di galanteria', in Galant style. This style gave less importance to the complex polyphony and counterpoint of the Baroque, and instead favored the accompanied melody, which was to be the protagonist of classicism from this point on. The sonatas present the typical alternation of slow and fast movements with a two-part monothematic structure. Some movements, however, are based on dance rhythms and there is often a minuet and sometimes a French-style allemande.

Played on the harpsichord by Luigi Chiarizia.

CD x 1

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