Carlo Caproli


Carlo Caproli or Caprioli, also called Carlo del Violino, was an Italian violinist, organist, and a leading composer of cantatas in mid-17th-century Italy.

Life

Early life and career

Carlo Caproli was born in Rome. His father was a seller of green vegetables.
He was recorded as Carlo del Violino in 1636, when he was engaged by the Barberini family for performances of Santa Teodora. 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.
He was an organist under Giacomo Carissimi at the Collegio Germanico beginning in September 1643 and held the post until 1645. On 15 November 1644 he was appointed aiutante di camera under Cardinal Camillo Pamphili, but left that position in April 1647. He first appeared at San Luigi dei Francesi on 25 August 1652 as a violinist hired for the occasion.
Caproli's wife was related to the Roman publisher Agostino Mascardi.

Paris

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 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. For his efforts, Caproli was made maître de la musique du cabinet du Roy, which suggests he may have directed the performances.

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. He composed numerous solo and ensemble cantatas, many with instruments, and several oratorios.
Caproli died in Rome just before 20 December 1668, the day on which his will was opened.

Works

Stage works

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.
  • A fuggir, a seguir beltà tiranna
  • Amor, deggio io servir
  • Bella Filli, io partirò
  • Chi d’amor si vuol difendere
  • Chi non sa qual tormento
  • Chi può Nina mirare
  • Chi sempre disse no
  • Chi vuol esser amante
  • Ci volea questo di più
  • Con fronte sicura
  • Conoscer quando inganna
  • Con piede lento giungon l’hore
  • Con voi parlo, amanti
  • Correte, amanti, a rimirar
  • Dallo strale d’amor
  • Di Cupido è legge antica
  • Di sue bellezze altera, text by Domenico Benigni
  • Dite che far poss’io
  • E dove, Eurillo, il passo
  • E pur tornate a dirmi, text by F. Melosi
  • E quando ve n’andate, speranze
  • Era condotto a morte
  • E un gran foco
  • Fate largo alla speranza
  • Ferma il piè, taci
  • Frondosi e verdi boschi, text by Conte Barbazza
  • Gia languide le stelle
  • Giurai cangiar pensiero
  • Hanno da durar più
  • Ho desio di saper
  • Hor ch’ho sentito un si ;
  • Hor ch’il gelido rigor
  • Hor ch’l ciel di stelle adorno
  • Il cor sempre costante
  • Infelice chi crede a i sospiri
  • Io che tra muti horrori, text by F. Melosi, serenade
  • Io mi struggo in lento foco
  • Io non so che cosa m’habbia
  • In questa oscuritade horrida
  • Languia Filen trafitto
  • Le note ove son chiusi, text by Marini
  • Lidio, invano presumi, 1679
  • Lilla, con gran ragione, text by Melosi
  • Mene contento, non ricuso pena
  • Mi è stato detto che al foco
  • Mondo, non mi chiamar
  • Morto voi mi bramate, text by G. Lotti
  • Navicella ch’a bel vento
  • Non fuggir quando mi vedi
  • Non si può dir di no
  • Non si può più sperare
  • Non si tema il mar infido
  • Non ti fidar, mio core
  • Non voglio far altro che chiuder
  • Non voglio più lite
  • Occhi audaci, che fate
  • Occhi miei, voi parlate
  • O da me adorata tant’anni
  • Oppresso un cor da mille pene
  • O questa si ch'è bella, text by S. Baldini
  • Par ch’il core melo dica
  • Per l’Egeo di spuma grave
  • Poiche fissato il guardo
  • Purche lo sappi tu, text attributed to S. Baldini
  • Quella luce che s’indori
  • Qui dove il piè fermai, serenade
  • Quietatevi, pensieri, io vo dormire, text by Francesco Buti, 1646 or earlier
  • Quietatevi, pensieri, non m’affligete più
  • Rido una volta in cento
  • Tu mancavi a tormentarmi
  • Tutto cinto di ferro, text by Melosi
  • Una bella che bella non è
  • Un tiranno dolore non vuol partir
  • Un cor impiegato si sente morire
  • Uscitemi dal seno, amorosi pensieri
  • Vanne pur lungi speranza, text by Domenico Benigni
  • Ve la potrei dipingere
  • Voglio ridere pur di cuore
  • ''Voi del sole che piangete''

    Aria

  • ''Non si puo dir di no''