Life
His brief career, from training to his premature passing, was situated entirely within the founding phase of the early Baroque, yet his sensitivity still had roots in the practice of late Mannerism.
Vincenzo Calestani was born in Lucca on March 10, 1589. His figure emerges as that of a composer and singer active in the first decades of the 17th century, known above all for his interest in the new monodic form and for his skill in madrigal writing.
Information about his life is scarce and fragmentary. No kinship with other contemporary musicians, such as Girolamo Castellani, is documented. We know, however, that he had a teaching activity, as his only known work was dedicated to a pupil, Isabella Mastiani from Pisa.
In 1617 he published the collection Madrigali et arie in Venice, containing twenty-eight pieces, some of which preserve autograph corrections in a copy now held at the Central National Library of Florence. The publication, which combines pieces for one and two voices with basso continuo, fits into the context of the early experimentation with monodic language.
Among the pieces in the collection, Damigella tutta bella stands out, a remake of a piece already known through the Scherzi musicali of Giulio Cesare Monteverdi, brother of Claudio. Calestani's version reworks the rhythmic profile, evoking atmospheres that also recall famous pages from Claudio Monteverdi's Orfeo. This work testifies to Calestani's ability to position himself within the innovative currents of the time, reinterpreting already established models with personal sensitivity.
After 1617 there is no further news of his activity or his life. His memory remains entrusted to this single collection, which represents an original contribution to the transition between traditional polyphony and the new vocal music of the early 17th century.
Aneddoto
A tribute to his pupil
The collection Madrigali et arie was dedicated by Calestani to Isabella Mastiani, his Pisan pupil: a sign of affection and gratitude that reveals the personal and educational relationship between master and disciple.Works
The only known work by Vincenzo Calestani is the collection Madrigali et arie, published in Venice in 1617. It is a series of pieces for one or two voices with basso continuo, testifying to the composer's adherence to the taste for the new monody. The collection, consisting of twenty-eight pieces, shows a variety of styles and characters, revealing attention to the expressiveness of the poetic text and the clarity of the musical discourse.
The most famous piece, Damigella tutta bella, reworks a text by Gabriello Chiabrera already set to music by Giulio Cesare Monteverdi. Calestani's intervention highlights his interest in rhythmic and melodic innovation, aligning him with the most modern trends of his era. The collection remains a significant testimony to the musical activity between the madrigal and the solo aria in the first decades of the 17th century.
Briciole di storia
The poet in prison
The life of Marino was as celebrated as it was scandalous. In Turin, where he was the most admired poet of the court of Duke Carlo Emanuele I, he was imprisoned in 111 for the second time. The very serious charge was having written and spread malicious satires against the Duke himself. It was not his first time in prison, as years earlier he had already been arrested for trying to procure an abortion for a young lover. On this occasion, however, his genius and his powerful friendships saved him. After nearly a year in prison, thanks to the intercession of influential cardinals, he was released once again, proving to be a Master not only of poetry but also in the art of surviving court intrigue.
Pubblico dominio (Common)
