Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger

Synopsis: Anne Marie Dragosits’ talk “New information on Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger - with special focus on his material for the basso continuo” brings valuable new insights into Kapsberger’s life, education and practice, as a composer, singer, performer and music teacher. The author of the recently published biography, Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger “Ein ziemlich extravaganter Mann” (Lucca: Lim, 2020), Dragosits demonstrates expert understanding of the importance of biographical information for historical performance practice research, in particular, in the field of basso continuo, and offers analysis of the early basso continuo notation by Kapsperger. The lutenist Michele Pasotti delves deeper into the analyses of Kapsperger’s and others’ realisations for basso continuo in his talk “Passaggi per suonare sopra la parte. Kapsperger and other 17th century Italian sources for basso continuo on the theorbo.” Pasotti addresses some possible misconceptions in previous analyses of this material, such as the role of fundamento and ornamento, and provides close analyses of various realisations, in particular of the New York and the Modena manuscripts and transcripts.

Harfenlabor presents an online lecture held on Zoom, on April 17, 2021, on Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger with two speakers: Anne Marie Dragosits, harpsichord player, with “New information on Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger - with special focus on his material for the basso continuo”; and Michele Pasotti, lutenist, with “Passaggi per suonare sopra la parte. Kapsperger and other 17th century Italian sources for basso continuo on the theorbo.”

This lecture on Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger places a special focus on Kapsperger’s vision of a good continuo player accompanying the voice, as demonstrated in his published material for basso continuo. In historical performance practice, plucked instruments, as well as keyboard instruments, very often shared the repertoire—historical harpists therefore find great benefit in researching material written for theorbo or lute. Both Dragosits and Pasotti are also continuo players with valuable insights into Kapsperger realisations and treatises.

Dragosits is also the author of the recently published biography, Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger “Ein ziemlich extravaganter Mann” (Lucca: Lim, 2020).

Cite:&&“Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger," online Zoom lecture by Anne Marie Dragosits and Michele Pasotti, moderated by Margret Köll, May 5, 2021, Harfenlabor.com, Zoom recording, 02:55:57, https://www.harfenlabor.com/research/giovanni-girolamo-kapsberger/.