RAFAEL CASTELLANOS
Rafael Antonio Castellanos was a Guatemalan classical composer. He was born in what is now known as Guatemala City in 1725. Castellanos worked under his uncle, Manuel José de Quiroz, at Antigua Cathedral from 1745-1765 and then as an apprentice at Guatemala City Cathedral. He became a teacher at ‘Colegio de Seies’ where his sister, also a musician, taught string and keyboard instruments. As a ‘maestro’ he preserved the musical level of the cathedral along with help of other leading Italian and Spanish composers. He was also admitted as a member of the cathedral orchestra as first violin, sometimes also playing the harp. During the 1750’s he was producing his own compositions for the matin services (monastic nighttime liturgy), along with those of his uncle.
When is uncle died, Castellanos was appointed his successor as chapel master; with duties of conducting cathedral music during matin services, vespers (sunset evening prayers), Mass and composing music for different liturgical occasions. He composed ten liturgical woks in Latin and well over 170 pieces, mostly villancicos, (a common poetic and musical form of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America popular from the late 15th to 18th centuries; now known as Christmas carols). Most of the villancicos are for one to eight voices with strings and continuo many including woodwind and bass instruments. His work is described as effortless melodies and unambitious harmonies, incorporating both Spanish and Italian elements and sometimes the speech pattern of Indian, African, and Afro-Caribbean populations. His work has been catalogued and remains in the Archdiocese Historic Archives in Guatemala City; some has been transcribed into modern score for performance and recoding.
After an earthquake in 1773 life changed drastically in Guatemala City. Due to hardship Castellanos was forced to leave along with his ministry; his musicians. Castellano kept up his work composing four to five works a year. His pupils became skilled composers as well, including Pedro Aristondo, his eventual successor as ‘maestro’ at the chapel. Castellanos died in 1791.
DISCOGRAPHY:
The only searchable work of his was:
Title: Pastoras Alegres
Composer: Rafael Antonio Castellanos
Genre: Sacred, villancicos (in Spanish)
Instruments: string ensemble
Published: 1778
Description: A 3 part Christmas villancico. In the manuscript, the voices are described as tiple 1 and 2 and alto.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Alfred E. Lemmon. "Castellanos, Rafael Antonio." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/41252>.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Antonio_Castellanos
Rafael Antonio Castellanos was a Guatemalan classical composer. He was born in what is now known as Guatemala City in 1725. Castellanos worked under his uncle, Manuel José de Quiroz, at Antigua Cathedral from 1745-1765 and then as an apprentice at Guatemala City Cathedral. He became a teacher at ‘Colegio de Seies’ where his sister, also a musician, taught string and keyboard instruments. As a ‘maestro’ he preserved the musical level of the cathedral along with help of other leading Italian and Spanish composers. He was also admitted as a member of the cathedral orchestra as first violin, sometimes also playing the harp. During the 1750’s he was producing his own compositions for the matin services (monastic nighttime liturgy), along with those of his uncle.
When is uncle died, Castellanos was appointed his successor as chapel master; with duties of conducting cathedral music during matin services, vespers (sunset evening prayers), Mass and composing music for different liturgical occasions. He composed ten liturgical woks in Latin and well over 170 pieces, mostly villancicos, (a common poetic and musical form of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America popular from the late 15th to 18th centuries; now known as Christmas carols). Most of the villancicos are for one to eight voices with strings and continuo many including woodwind and bass instruments. His work is described as effortless melodies and unambitious harmonies, incorporating both Spanish and Italian elements and sometimes the speech pattern of Indian, African, and Afro-Caribbean populations. His work has been catalogued and remains in the Archdiocese Historic Archives in Guatemala City; some has been transcribed into modern score for performance and recoding.
After an earthquake in 1773 life changed drastically in Guatemala City. Due to hardship Castellanos was forced to leave along with his ministry; his musicians. Castellano kept up his work composing four to five works a year. His pupils became skilled composers as well, including Pedro Aristondo, his eventual successor as ‘maestro’ at the chapel. Castellanos died in 1791.
DISCOGRAPHY:
The only searchable work of his was:
Title: Pastoras Alegres
Composer: Rafael Antonio Castellanos
Genre: Sacred, villancicos (in Spanish)
Instruments: string ensemble
Published: 1778
Description: A 3 part Christmas villancico. In the manuscript, the voices are described as tiple 1 and 2 and alto.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Alfred E. Lemmon. "Castellanos, Rafael Antonio." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/41252>.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Antonio_Castellanos