Antonio Carbonchi

Antonio Carbonchi was a 17th-century guitarist and composer who wrote two influential books on lute playing.

Biography

Cabonshi was born in Florence, sometime around the year 1600. ^[1] He joined the army of Tuscany in its war against the Turks, and for his courage in battle he was made a Knight of the Order of Tuscany. ^[1] After his military service he became a musician, specializing in innovative music for the guitar family. ^{[1] [2]}

Publications and writings

Carbonchi's first book, Sonate de chitarra spagnola con intavolatura franzese, was published in Florence in 1640. ^[3] This book was dedicated to Mattias de' Medici as a patron of music. ^[3] The music in this book is written in French-style lute tabulature, regardless of whether the music was to be plucked or strummed. ^[3] Carbonchi wrote that the French notation was in response to requests by his foreign students. ^[4]

Carbonchi's second book, Dodici chitarre spostate, was published in Florence in 1643. ^{[5] [6]} This volume was dedicated to the Marchese Bartolomeo Corsini. ^[2] The final 32 compositions contained in this work are written for twelve guitars, each guitar tuned to a different note on the chromatic scale. ^[5] Although such an ensemble is unlikely, it empirically proved the guitar's utility as a chromatic instrument. ^{[5] [6]}

In addition to the two published works, there exist manuscripts known to be by Carbonchi, as well as those attributed to him. ^[7]

Style

Carbonchi's compositions consist of music written in the Italian dance styles, including the Ciacconda, Passacaglia, and Spagnoletta dance songs. ^[3]

References

1. Bone, Philip J. (1914). The Guitar & Mandolin: Biographies of Celebrated Players and Composers for These Instruments. London: Schott & Co. p.  63.
2. Negri, Giulio (1722). Istoria degli scrittori fiorentini. A. Forni. p. 57.
3. Tyler, James; Sparks, Paul (2002). The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era. Oxford University Press. p. 72. ISBN   9780198167136.
4. Eisenhardt, Lex (2015). Italian Guitar Music of the Seventeenth Century: Battuto and Pizzicato. Boydell & Brewer. p. 226. ISBN   9781580465335.
5. Tyler, James; Sparks, Paul (2002). The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era. Oxford University Press. p. 61. ISBN   9780198167136.
6. Eisenhardt, Lex (2015). Italian Guitar Music of the Seventeenth Century: Battuto and Pizzicato. Boydell & Brewer. p. 88. ISBN   9781580465335.
7. Tyler, James; Sparks, Paul (2002). The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era. Oxford University Press. pp. 84, 93. ISBN   9780198167136.