Balletti

Gastoldi (around 1550-1622) worked as a sub-deacon, singer and kapellmeister at the Gonzaga's home church, S.Barbara in Mantua, and later on in Milano. Apart from religious compositions, he also wrote two collections of dances which made Gastoldi known all over Europe. Up to the first half of the 17th century, both collections, the 5-part Balletti and the 3-part ones, were reprinted repeatedly. Gastoldi's dances were quite popular throughout Europe as utility music. With their catchy melodies and easy playability, they are well-suited even today to complement the repertoire of small or larger recorder ensembles. The individual pieces are preceded by their respective ranges and instrumentation (mostly T/T/SB or S/S/B).