Giovanni Battista DALLA GOSTENA (1558?-1593)
Genus cromaticum - Organ Works, 1599
Fantasia XII [5:59]
Fantasia VII [4:01]
Fantasia XXIII [2:23]
Susane un jour (Lassus) [6:07]
Fantasia XXV [2:05]
Fantasia IV [3:38]
Fantasia IX [3:28]
Mais que sert la richesse a l'homme (Costeley) [3:37]
Fantasia XXIV [3:04]
Fantasia XIX [3:30]
Fantasia VIII [4:50]
Fantasia I [4:12]
Fantasia XVI [2:25]
Fantasia XIII [2:22]
Fantasia V [3:43]
Fantasia XVII [4:36]
Pis ne me peult venir (Crecquillon) [3:46]
Fantasia III [3:15]
Fantasia XV [4:17]
Fantasia XIV [3:13]
Fantasia XXII [3:05]
Irene De Ruvo (organ)
rec. July 2015, Basilica di Santa Barbara, Mantua, Italy
ARCANA AD102 [77:47]
New Grove spends just three paragraphs on Giovanni
Battista dalla Gostena. That is quite surprising, if Irene de Ruvo is right
in stating that he "is considered one of the most important composers
of Genoa and has a key role in the Italian music history between the XVI and
XVII century (sic)". Maybe more recent research has brought something
to light that the author of the article in New Grove did not know?
Gostena spent his entire life in Genoa, except for a stay in Vienna where
he was a pupil of Philippe de Monte. In 1584 he became maestro di cappella
at Genoa Cathedral, a post he held until 1589. In 1593 he was murdered.
His oeuvre is not large and comprises mostly madrigals. Between 1582 and 1595
five books with madrigals and canzonettas for four and five voices were published.
Five further madrigals were included in several anthologies. In addition he
composed some sacred music: three Magnificats, five motets and two contrafacta.
This disc is devoted to his organ music, but the work-list in New Grove
only mentions music for the lute, 28 pieces in total. They were included by
Simone Molinaro in his Intavolatura di liuto which was published
in 1599. One may wonder why Gostena would write music for lute; as far as
we know he did not play the instrument. Molinaro was Gostena's nephew
and pupil. Irene de Ruvo believes that these pieces were not originally intended
for the lute. "[The] study and analysis of these pieces reveal a conduct
of the voices in a quite strict polyphonic style, rather different from the
lute compositions of that time characterized by a freer and more lively polyphony.
Furthermore, the particular sonority of the lute, short and feeble, doesn't
help to appreciate all the polyphonic lines, the dissonances and suspensions
because the long notes stop very quickly." She adds that lute virtuosos
consider Gostena's works extremely difficult to play.
In De Ruvo's view these features point in the direction of the organ
which does much more justice to the polyphony as well as the dissonances included
in a number of them. The three canzonas are typical keyboard intabulations
of chansons as were common at the time. According to De Ruvo it is likely
that Molinaro transcribed Gostena's organ pieces as a tribute to his
uncle. This seems to be confirmed by the preface: "How can I fully honour
God first, Creator of everything, if not with a big heart, and second my uncle,
my mentor; how will I be grateful, if not with a great tribute?"
The difference in tone production between the two instruments, as De Rivo
pointed out in the quotation given before, forced Molinaro to adapt them to
the lute. In order to be able to play these pieces at the organ De Ruvo had
to reconstruct them which she indicates was a demanding task.
Having heard these pieces it was worth the effort. Fantasias are pieces in
which the composer can give free reign to his imagination. This explains why
they have strong improvisatory features. Gostena didn't eschew harmonic
experiments. The harshest dissonances are included in the Fantasia XII
which opens the programme. These come especially well to the fore here thanks
to the meantone temperament of the organ. It was built by Graziado Antegnati,
one of Italy's most important organ builders of the 16th century, in
1565. It was erected in the basilica of Santa Barbara in Mantua during the
reign of Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga. It has seven broken keys for D-sharp/E-flat
and G-sharp/A-flat.
The combination of music, organ and interpreter is a happy one. These are
technically immaculate and musically compelling performances. Obviously this
is the very first time these pieces have been recorded. I don't know
whether they are or will be available in print. That would be nice, because
they are an important addition to the repertoire of early Italian keyboard
music.
Johan van Veen
www.musica-dei-donum.org
twitter.com/johanvanveen
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