Jonas Nordberg - Intavolatura di chitarone (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

At the end of the 16th century, the pursuit of greater, more vivid expressivity dominated music-making all across Italy, taking madrigals and other vocal ensemble forms as its starting point but soon going on to explore the possibilities offered by solo singing. For some decades the theorbo (or chitarone, as it was also called) was regarded as the ideal instrument for accompanying singers, but as a leading exponent of the instrument Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger soon also established it as a solo instrument in its own right. Of German descent, Kapsperger published his first book of solo pieces for the theorbo in 1604 and went on to enjoy a successful career in Rome, contributing to the monumental cultural programme of Pope Urban VIII. There he moved in intellectual circles, particularly that of the scientist Galileo Galilei. During the 1630s things became quiet for Kapsperger, possibly a side effect of Galilei’s conviction for heresy in 1633. Not until 1640 did his last known volume of theorbo pieces appear, the number four in its title indicating that two books have been lost. A particularly attractive aspect of Kapsperger’s music for the theorbo is the marked contrasts between dramatic and impetuous toccatas, straightforward, ‘no-nonsense’ passacaglias and rhythmically refined but simply constructed dance movements such as galliards. These are here all made to sound under the fingers of Jonas Nordberg, sought-after as soloist as well as ensemble musician, performing on a wide range of plucked instruments including the lute, guitar and theorbo. On BIS he has previously appeared on the acclaimed album Heroines with soprano Ruby Hughes and in chamber works with recorder player Dan Laurin.

Tracklist:
1 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Toccata No. 1 06:42
2 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Passacaglia No. 1 03:57
3 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Gagliarda No. 1 01:36
4 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Canzone No. 1 03:43
5 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Toccata No. 2 02:54
6 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Passacaglia No. 2 03:26
7 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Gagliarda No. 8 01:32
8 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Canario 02:43
9 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Aria 01:20
10 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 1 01:14
11 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 2 01:12
12 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 3 01:08
13 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 4 01:15
14 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 5 01:15
15 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 6 01:18
16 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 7 01:12
17 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 8 01:08
18 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Partita No. 9 01:08
19 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Toccata No. 9 01:40
20 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Passacaglia No. 4 03:35
21 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Gagliarda No. 7 02:13
22 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Toccata No. 5 01:58
23 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Gagliarda No. 11 01:24
24 Libro primo d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Gagliarda No. 12 01:44
25 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone, ballo primo: Uscita 00:56
26 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone, ballo primo: Ballo 00:56
27 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone, ballo primo: Gagliarda 01:23
28 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone, ballo primo: Corrente 01:22
29 Toccata arpeggiata 02:36
30 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Battaglia 08:08
31 Libro quarto d'intavolatvra di chitarone: Kapsperger 02:54

Personnel:
Jonas Nordberg, theorbo