Carlo Farina – Capriccio Stravagante (Score and parts, PDF)

Carlo Farina – Capriccio Stravagante.

Farina was born at Mantua. He presumably received his first lessons from his father, who was sonatore di viola at the court of the Gonzaga in that city. Later he got further education probably by Salomone Rossi and Giovanni Battista Buonamente. From 1626 to 1629, he worked as concertmaster in Dresden. In Dresden he worked with Heinrich Schütz, who interested him in composing. From 1629 to 1631, he was a prominent member of the electoral court orchestra in Bonn, until he returned to Italy, where he worked in Parma and later in Lucca until 1635. In 1635 he held a position at the court of Carlo I Cybo-Malaspina, Prince of Massa, and between 1636 and 1637 in Gdańsk. From 1638 he lived in Vienna, where he died of the plague probably a year later.

He is considered to be one of the earliest violin virtuosos and he made many contributions to violin technique. For example, in his work Capriccio Stravagante (1627) he used the violin to imitate animal sounds like dogs barking or cats fighting. [wikipedia]

For further information about the piece you can read BONNER, ANDREW, D.M.A “Curious Inventions”: Carlo Farina’s Capriccio Stravagante. 

Here is an extract of the article by Bonner:

Carlo Farina’s 1627 Capriccio Stravagante uses four violin-family instruments (violin, two violas, and a violoncello-range instrument) to mimic other instruments such as trumpets, shawms, organs, and guitars. This investigation seeks to equip the modern performer by framing the piece in the context of contemporary understandings and techniques. Carlo Farina and the Capriccio model the influence of emerging tastes for Italian practices and musicians in the courts of northern Europe, and for the violin as an individually idiomatic solo instrument. […]

This edition by Snakewood Editions contains:

Carlo Farina – Capriccio Stravagante: Preface and sheet music: Score and parts: Soprano (Violino), Alto (Viola I), Alto (Arr. Violino II), Tenor, Tenor (Arr.Viola II) and Basso.