Rafael Antonio Castellanos
Encyclopedia
Rafael Antonio Castellanos (ca. 1725-1791) was a Guatemala
n classical composer
. His style is that of the late Spanish baroque, pre-classical, and classical periods, with frequent reference to Guatemalan folk music idioms.
, chapelmaster of the cathedral of Santiago de Guatemala. In 1740, the young Rafael signed a composition for voice and basso continuo, on the Latin
text of the Second Lamentation of Jeremiah. This piece reflects his mastery of baroque
writing and an unusual expressive talent.
In 1745 he became a journeyman and was admitted as a member of the cathedral orchestra as first violin
, sometimes also playing harp
. During the 1750s he produced various of his own compositions for the matins
services, along with those of his uncle. When Quirós died in 1765, Castellanos was appointed his successor as chapel master, with the duties of conducting cathedral music during matins
, vespers
, and Mass
, and of composing suitable music for different liturgical occasions.
After the earthquake of 1773 life changed dramatically in the City of Santiago de Guatemala
, which would shortly move to the site of present-day Guatemala City
by order of King Charles III of Spain
. After 1775 the city would be known as Antigua Guatemala
. Castellanos remained loyal to the Archbishop
, Pedro Cortés y Larraz, and only left with his musicians, the clergy, and the religious orders when they were forced to, arriving at the new site in November, 1779. Despite the hardship of his new life, Castellanos kept up his work, composing four or five works every year. Among his pupils, several became able composers, such as Manuel Silvestre Pellegeros and Pedro Nolasco Estrada Aristondo, his eventual successor as maestro de capilla.
s and cantata
s for different feasts of the Catholic
liturgical calendar, as well as sacred works on Latin
texts.
Several of his compositions are available on CD, performed by Cristina Altamira
and the Millennium Ensemble. http://www.sophosenlinea.com/index.php?keyword=Joyas+del+Barroco+en+Guatemala&Search=Buscar&Itemid=1&option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n classical composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. His style is that of the late Spanish baroque, pre-classical, and classical periods, with frequent reference to Guatemalan folk music idioms.
Life
From an early age, Castellanos trained as an apprentice under his uncle Manuel José de QuirósManuel José de Quirós
-Life:Born in Santiago de Guatemala, present day Antigua Guatemala, towards the end of the 17th century, Quirós had a religious education while pursuing his musical apprenticeship and reaching the level of a journeyman...
, chapelmaster of the cathedral of Santiago de Guatemala. In 1740, the young Rafael signed a composition for voice and basso continuo, on the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
text of the Second Lamentation of Jeremiah. This piece reflects his mastery of baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
writing and an unusual expressive talent.
In 1745 he became a journeyman and was admitted as a member of the cathedral orchestra as first violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, sometimes also playing harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
. During the 1750s he produced various of his own compositions for the matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
services, along with those of his uncle. When Quirós died in 1765, Castellanos was appointed his successor as chapel master, with the duties of conducting cathedral music during matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
, vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
, and Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
, and of composing suitable music for different liturgical occasions.
After the earthquake of 1773 life changed dramatically in the City of Santiago de Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, which would shortly move to the site of present-day Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
by order of King Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
. After 1775 the city would be known as Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches...
. Castellanos remained loyal to the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
, Pedro Cortés y Larraz, and only left with his musicians, the clergy, and the religious orders when they were forced to, arriving at the new site in November, 1779. Despite the hardship of his new life, Castellanos kept up his work, composing four or five works every year. Among his pupils, several became able composers, such as Manuel Silvestre Pellegeros and Pedro Nolasco Estrada Aristondo, his eventual successor as maestro de capilla.
Works
176 of his works are extant and have been catalogued. Some of them have been transcribed into modern score for performance and recording. All of his output is vocal, with villancicoVillancico
The villancico was a common poetic and musical form of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America popular from the late 15th to 18th centuries. With the decline in popularity of the villancicos in the 20th century, the term became reduced to mean merely "Christmas carol"...
s and cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s for different feasts of the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
liturgical calendar, as well as sacred works on Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
texts.
Several of his compositions are available on CD, performed by Cristina Altamira
Cristina Altamira
Cristina Altamira is a mezzosoprano specializing in baroque and Latin American music.-Biography:...
and the Millennium Ensemble. http://www.sophosenlinea.com/index.php?keyword=Joyas+del+Barroco+en+Guatemala&Search=Buscar&Itemid=1&option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse