Carlo Caproli or Caprioli (c. 1614 – 1668),[1] also called Carlo del Violino, was an Italian violinist, organist, and a leading composer of cantatas in mid-17th-century Italy.[2][3]
Life
Early life and career
Carlo Caproli was born in Rome. His father (originally from Poli) was a seller of green vegetables (erbarolo).[4]
He was recorded as Carlo del Violino in 1636, when he was engaged by the Barberini family for performances of Santa Teodora (with a text by Giulio Rospigliosi[5]). Caproli was considered to be a maestro di cappella beginning in 1638, and was in charge of the music for the festival of the patron saint of San Girolamo degli Schiavoni up to 1643.[2]
In November 1653, Caproli and his wife went to Paris, where he was commissioned by Cardinal Mazarin to compose the opera Le nozze di Peleo e di Theti (music lost) with an Italian libretto by Mazarin and Francesco Buti. The premiere, which included ballet intermèdes with a French text by Isaac de Benserade and music by uncredited French composers, was given on 14 April 1654 at the Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon with decors by Giacomo Torelli. The 15-year-old King Louis XIV appeared in no fewer than six roles. The production received nine performances, the final two open to the public, and it was considered a great success, although this was primarily due to the French ballets in the intervals.[2][6] For his efforts, Caproli was made maître de la musique du cabinet du Roy, which suggests he may have directed the performances.[2]
Later career in Rome
Caproli returned to Rome in 1655. He again directed the music for the festival of San Girolamo and, as one of the best violinists in the city, made numerous appearances, including at San Luigi dei Francesi, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Santa Maria del Popolo, where he played for the Vespers of 8 September. In 1665 he took up the post of guardiano of the instrumentalists at the Congregazione dei Musici di Roma (later the Accademia di Santa Cecilia).[2] He composed numerous solo and ensemble cantatas, many with instruments, and several oratorios.[3]
Caproli died in Rome just before 20 December 1668, the day on which his will was opened.[1]
Works
Stage works
Le nozze di Peleo e di Theti, opera (commedia), text by Francesco Buti, music lost; performed Paris, Petit Bourbon, 14 April 1654
David’ prevaricante e poi pentito, oratorio, text by Lelio Orsini, dated 1683; score in Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, no. 16272
Cantatas
Number of voices, accompaniment, and location of the score are given in parentheses after the title. According to Eleanor Caluori, many of these catatas are incorrectly attributed to Francesco Mannelli in the first edition of Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.[2]
Correte, amanti, a rimirar (three voices, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
Dallo strale d’amor (two voices, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
Di Cupido è legge antica (one voice, basso continuo; Rome, Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia)
Di sue bellezze altera, text by Domenico Benigni (one soprano, basso continuo; Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France; Rome, Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia)
Dite che far poss’io (one voice, basso continuo; Naples, Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Biblioteca, no.16796 [two settings])
E dove, Eurillo, il passo (two voices, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
E pur tornate a dirmi, text by F. Melosi (one voice, basso continuo; Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana)
E quando ve n’andate, speranze (one voice, basso continuo; Oxford, Faculty of Music Library)
Era condotto a morte (one voice, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
E un gran foco (one voice, basso continuo; Naples, Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Biblioteca)
Fate largo alla speranza (one voice, basso continuo; Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele II)
Ferma il piè, taci (one voice, basso continuo; Naples, Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Biblioteca)
Frondosi e verdi boschi, text by Conte Barbazza (one voice, basso continuo; Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France)
Gia languide le stelle (three voices, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
Mi è stato detto che al foco (one voice, basso continuo; Naples, Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Biblioteca)
Mondo, non mi chiamar (one voice, basso continuo; Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek)
Morto voi mi bramate, text by G. Lotti (2 voices, basso continuo; Modena, Biblioteca Estense e Universitaria)
Navicella ch’a bel vento (four voices, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale; edited version with three voices in L'arte musicale in Italia[7])
Non fuggir quando mi vedi (one voice, basso continuo; London, British Library)
Non si può dir di no (one voice, basso continuo; Paris, Geneviève Thibault, private collection in BnF)
Non si può più sperare (three voices; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
Non si tema il mar infido (one voice, basso continuo; , 1v, bc, Oxford, Christ Church Library)
Non ti fidar, mio core (two voices, basso continuo; Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense)
Non voglio far altro che chiuder (one voice, basso continuo; Naples, Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Biblioteca)
Non voglio più lite (one voice, basso continuo; Oxford, Faculty of Music Library)
Occhi audaci, che fate (two voices, basso continuo; Modena, Biblioteca Estense e Universitaria)
Quietatevi, pensieri, io vo dormire, text by Francesco Buti (one voice, basso continuo; Naples, Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Biblioteca), 1646 or earlier
Quietatevi, pensieri, non m’affligete più (one voice, basso continuo; Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense)
Rido una volta in cento (one voice, basso continuo; Oxford, Christ Church Library)
Tu mancavi a tormentarmi (one voice, basso continuo; Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense)[8]
Tutto cinto di ferro, text by Melosi (one voice, basso continuo; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)
Una bella che bella non è (one voice, basso continuo; Cambridge, King's College, Rowe Music Library)
Un tiranno dolore non vuol partir (three voices, basso continuo; Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France)
Un cor impiegato si sente morire (three voices; Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale)