Roncalli, Ludovico

Capricci armonici sopra la chitarra spagnola . . .
Opera Prima
(1692)

Detailed Contents

Prefatory Material
Tablature
Indices
Sources


I. Overview

One of the last printed Italian tablatures for the five-course guitar, but also one of the first to be rediscovered by modern guitarists. The music fits relatively well on the modern instrument and is grouped clearly into suites by "tuono."

Title:
Capricci armonici sopra la chitarra spagnola . . . Opera Prima. (Bergamo: Sebastian Casetti, 1692).

Description:
(4 ff.) + 58 ff. [engraved]
54 pieces
Foliation: none
Page Size -- I:Bc: 21.8 cm. (width) X 15.6 cm.; I:Mb: 24.2 cm X 17.7 cm.; GB:Lbl: c. 22.3 cm. X 15.5 cm.; I:Rsc: 24.8 cm. X 17.9 cm.; I:Rc: 24.7 cm. X 17.5 cm.
Plate Size -- I:Bc: 19 cm. X 12.9 cm.; I:Mb: 19.3 cm. X 12.9 cm.; GB:Lbl: 19.4 cm. X 13.1 cm. [f. 1]; I:Rsc: 19.1 cm. X 13 cm. [f. 1]; I:Rc: 19.2 cm. X 12.9 cm. [f. 1]


II. Prefatory Material (4 ff.)

f. 1r -- [shield with bird and laurel, etc.]

f. 2r -- CAPRICCI ARMONICI SOPRA LA CHITARRA SPAGNOLA Consagrati All'Eminentissimo Principe. IL SIG. CARDINALE PANFILIO Gran Priore Gerososimitano in Roma é Legato Meritissimo di Bologna DAL CONTE LUDOVICO RONCALLI Opera Prima. In Bergamo, 1692 Sebastian Casetti Intagl.

f. 3r -- Eminentiss.mo Principe [dedication to Cardinale Panfilio; signed:] Berg.mo Luglio 1692 . . . Ludovico Roncalli

f. 4r -- Indice delle Sonate [indexed by suite/tone]

[No alfabeto chart; hypothetical usage:]

+
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
G2
G3
H
H2
H3
H4
H5
H7
I
2
2
3
0
0
0
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
2
3
4
5
3
4
5
6
7
9
2
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
2
3
4
3
4
5
6
7
9
2
0
3
1
3
1
3
0
1
2
3
3
4
5
6
7
9
2
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
7
0

K2
K3
K7
M
M3
M4
M5
N
N2
N4
N5
N7
O
P
P2
P3
P5
2
3
7
1
3
4
5
3
4
6
7
9
1
3
4
5
7
4
5
9
1
3
4
5
1
2
4
5
7
0
3
4
5
7
4
5
9
3
5
6
7
1
2
4
5
7
0
1
2
3
5
3
4
8
4
6
7
8
1
2
4
5
7
3
1
2
3
5
2
3
7
3
5
6
7
4
5
7
8
X
3
1
2
3
5


III. Tablature:

Mixed tablature. Ornaments: .T. (trillo) and # (vibrato).

Range (highest fret used on each course):

5th course 9th fret
4th course 10th fret
3rd course 10th fret
2nd course 11th fret
1st course 11th fret


IV. Indices

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

Index of Pieces:

Title Key Meter Page
(Ottavo Tuono)
Preludio
G
C
f. 1
Alemanda
G
C
f. 2
Corrente
G
3/[4]
f. 3
Gigua
G
[6/8]
f. 5
Sarabanda
G
3/[4]
f. 6
Gavotta
G
C
f. 7

(Quarto Tuono)

Preludio
e
C
f. 8
Alemanda
e
C
f. 9
Gigua
e
12/8
f. 10
Sarabanda
e
3/[4]
f. 12
Gavotta
e
C
f. 13
(Tuono trasportato)
Preludio
b
C
f. 14
Alemanda
b
C
f. 15
Corrente
b
3/[4]
f. 16
Sarabanda
b
3/[4]
f. 17
Minuet
b
3/[4]
f. 18
(Settimo Tuono)
Preludio
D
C
f. 19
Alemanda
D
C
f. 20
Corrente
D
3/[4]
f. 21
Gigua
D
12/8
f. 22
Sarabanda
D
3/[4]
f. 23
Minuet
D
3/[4]
f. 24
(Terzo Tuono)
Preludio
a
C
f. 25
Alemanda
a
C
f. 26
Corrente
a
3/[4]
f. 27
Gigua
a
12/8
f. 29
Sarabanda
a
3/[4]
f. 30
Passacaglij
a
3/[4]
f. 31
(Sesto Tuono)
Preludio
F
C
f. 33
Alemanda
F
C
f. 34
Corrente
F
3/[4]
f. 36
Gigua
F
C
f. 37
Sarabanda
F
3/[4]
f. 38
Minuet
F
3/[4]
f. 39
Gavotta
F
C
f. 39
(Primo Tuono)
Preludio
d
C
f. 40
Alemanda
d
C
f. 41
Gigua
d
12/8
f. 42
Minuet
d
3/[4]
f. 43
Alemanda
d
C
f. 44
Corrente
d
3/[4]
f. 45
Sarabanda
d
3/[4]
f. 46

(Quinto Tuono)

Preludio
C
C
f. 47
Alemanda
C
C
f. 48
Corrente
C
3/[4]
f. 49
Gigua
C
3/[4]
f. 50
Minuet
C
3/[4]
f. 52
Gavotta
C
C
f. 52
(Secondo Tuono)
Preludio
g
C
f. 53
Alemanda
g
C
f. 53
Corrente
g
3/[4]
f. 54
Minuet
g
3/[4]
f. 55
Gavotta
g
C
f. 56
Passacaglij
g
3/[4]
f. 56

 

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:
total
major
minor
meter
Allemande (Alemanda)
10
4
6
C
Prelude (Preludio)
9
4
5
C
Corrente
8
4
4
3/[4]
Gigue (Gigua)
7
4
3
4 in 12/8, 1 in C, 1 in 6/8,
and 1 in 3/[4]
Sarabande (Sarabanda)
7
3
4
3/[4]
Minuet
6
3
3
3/[4]
Gavotte (Gavotta)
5
3
2
C
Passacaglia (Passacaglij)
2
0
2
3/[4]
Totals:
54
25
29
25 in C, 24 in 3/[4],
4 in 12/8, and 1 in 6/8

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 0 A minor 6
B flat major 0 B flat minor 0
B major 0 B minor 5
C major 6 C minor 0
C sharp major 0 C sharp minor 0
D major 6 D minor 7
E flat major 0 E flat minor 0
E major 0 E minor 5
F major 7 F minor 0
F sharp major 0 F sharp minor 0
G major 6 G minor 6
A flat major 0 A flat minor 0


Index of Names:

CASETTI, Sebastian [engraver]
In Bergamo 1692 Sebastian Casetti Intagl. / f. 2r

PANFILIO, Cardinale [patron]
CAPRICCI ARMONICI SOPRA LA CHITARRA SPAGNOLA Consagrati All'Eminentissimo Principe. IL SIG. CARDINALE PANFILIO Gran Priore Gerososimitano in Roma é Legato Meritissimo di Bologna DAL CONTE LUDOVICO RONCALLI . . . / f. 2r

Eminentiss.mo Principe [dedication to Cardinale Panfilio] / f. 3r

RONCALLI, Ludovico
CAPRICCI ARMONICI SOPRA LA CHITARRA SPAGNOLA Consagrati All'Eminentissimo Principe. IL SIG. CARDINALE PANFILIO Gran Priore Gerososimitano in Roma é Legato Meritissimo di Bologna DAL CONTE LUDOVICO RONCALLI Opera Prima . . . / f. 2r

Eminentiss.mo Principe [dedication to Cardinale Panfilio; signed:] Berg.mo Luglio 1692 . . . Ludovico Roncalli / f. 3r


V. Sources [I:Bc, (I:BGc), I:Mb, I:Rc, I:Rsc, (F:Pth?), GB:Lbl, (D:MÜs)]

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

Condition: Lighter plate mark; very legible; page edges good and little mildew/stain damage.

Binding: Green/yellow diagonal stripes (front and back) with red circles (rosebuds?) at intersections; flowers in between; white spine. Very sturdy.

Manuscript additions:
Cover -- white tape: "BB242" over ink: "B. . ."
Spine -- "Roncalli / Capricci per / Chitarra / Spagnuola"
Inside cover -- pencil: "BB.242"
1 added folio beginning

f. 1r -- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTECA DEL LICEO MUSICALE DI BOLOGNA" [and f. 2r]; "CHITARRA" patched from behind with "-RRA" filled in by hand in ink; strip of blue tape (partialy removed) at the bottom (?)

f. 58 -- black stamp: "LICEO MUSICALE G.B. MARTINI BIBLIOTECA BOLOGNA"

1 added folio back


I:Mb = Italy: Milano, Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense (visited in 1992)

Condition: Thick pages with clean edges; some stains and spots. Fairly light plate but very legible.

Binding: Hard cover of dark leather (old but probably not original?); with paper design on inside cover.

Manuscript additions:
Cover -- white/red tape: "S X 22"; blue tape: "10" and "33/4"
Spine -- tape: "BIBLIOTECA NAZIONALE BRAIDENSE MILANO Musica B22"
Inside cover -- tape: "BIBLIOTECA NAZIONALE BRAIDENSE MILANO Musica B22"

1 folio added at front
+ f. 1r -- pencil: "Musica B22" and "CC324" XX out; red pencil, top right: "670"
+ f. 1v -- ink: "S1022"; red ink: "776"; [illegible blue stamp]

f. 2 -- red stamp: "JRB"

[all folios hand-numbered from f. 1r: 1-58 = ff. 5-62]

[lighter spots in tablature often filled in by hand (ink): pp. 22, 27, 28,etc.]

[p. 49 -- illegible blue stamp]

p. 58 -- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTHECA . . ." [blurred]

1 blank folio added at back

I:Rc = Italy: Roma, Biblioteca Casanatense (visited 1992)

Condition: Some mildew but very good condition; very clear print and light plate; gold page edges.

Binding: Recent red/green floral pattern white; white corners and spine; very good condition.

Manuscript additions:
Spine -- white tape: "REGIA BIBLIOTECA CASANATENSE ROMA / Musica 55"
Inside front cover -- ink, XX out: "O.III.105"; ink: "Mus.55"; white tape: "REGIA BIBLIOTECA CASANATENSE Roma /
Musica 55"; old ink: "Ex[n?] dono Baini [?]"

1 added folio at front
f. 1v -- black stamp: "BIBLIOTHE.A.CARD D[?].CASAN.I[?] O[?].PBAED" [also on f. 2r and f. 58v]

1 added [?] folio at back

I:Rsc = Italy: Roma, Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, Biblioteca Musicale Governativa (visited in 1992)

Condition: Stained in right-hand lower corner throughout; mildewed and dried; music still legible; gilded pages.

Binding: Leather hard cover [orginal?]; very stained, mildewed and torn; weak binding; some traces of gold trim left.

Manuscript additions:
Cover -- white tape with blue: "22 2/21"
Spine -- white tape with blue: "R. BIBLIOTECA MUSICALE GOVERNATIVA DI S. CECILIA G.C.S. 3.B.27"; white tape: "281"
Inside front cover -- white tape with black: "LUIGI ARRIGONI Libreria Antiquaria MILANO"; brown tape with red: "REGIA ACCADEMIA DI SANTA CECILIA BIBLIOTECA C.S.03D34" with purple stamp: "ANNULATO"; white tape with blue: "R. BIBLIOTECA MUSICALE GOVERNATIVA DI S. CECILIA G.C.S." [black ink:] 3.B.27"; pencil: "lom[ni?] pel.[?] b 11 W. 1-58 . . ."

1 folio added at front
+ f. 1r -- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTECA . . . ACCADEMIA S. CECILIA ROMA . . ." [blurred]; pencil: "21"

f. 1r -- blue stamp: "BIBLIOTECA GOVER.VA ACCADEMIA S. CECILIA in ROMA" [and ff. 2r, 3r, 4r, 1, 58]
f. 2r -- purple stamp: "INV. ST. No ____" [blank]
f. 5 -- purple stamp: "R. BIBLIOTECA MUSICALE DI S. CECILIA ROMA" [and f. 9]
f. 39 -- right-hand lower border, ink: "#" [and ff. 43,52]

Inside back cover -- pencil: "Lire[?] RON. -- Arrig."; pencil: "58 carte num. / più [lekncl?? Ry Gemp.?]"; pencil: "VN.1048 . . . N.S.M."; pencil: "Cont. 22 VII 58 E.2"

F:Pth: not at F:Pn or in any Catalogue there (visited in 1992)

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

Condition: Light plates; good page edges; some stains and ink spotting but very clear and legible; worm holes in border near back.

Binding: Recent red and blue marbled with maroon leather corners and spine; covere torn off; gold letters on spine: "RONCALLI CAPRICCI ARMONICI BERGAMO 1692."

Manuscript additions:
Spine -- white tape: "k.2" and "c12"; 1 folio added at front

1 blank folio added at front
+ f. 1r -- pencil: "K2c12"; pencil: "a.37" XX out

f. 1v -- red stamp: "BRITISH MUSEUM" [and f. 2v]
f. 2r -- pencil, XX out: "k2c12/a.37"

f. 58v -- red stamp: "BRITISH MUSEUM 1 FE [18]81"

1 blank folio added at back


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