Margaritis Kastellis
Margaritis Kastellis (Castellis) (Greek: Μαργαρίτης Καστέλλης) (1907 – 1972[1][2] ) was a Greek composer and army officer known for his work in military music.[3] His arrangement and adaptation of the Hymn to Liberty for military band is still played Greece today.[4] He was born in Chrysoupoli (a city in northern Greece) and died in Athens.[1]
Life and career
Kastellis studied under Manolis Kalomiris.[1] He joined the Greek Army at an early age, as a musician, and upon completion of a full career, he left with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, having served as Chief Inspector of Military Bands nationwide.[1] After retiring in 1963, he taught for several years at the National Conservatoire.[1] He was an authority on wind instruments (both woodwind and brass, including brass band instruments).
Style
The main features of his music are:
- A profound attachment to popular musical tradition.
- A marked preference for "freer" form of composition (suite, fantasy) over more "formal" ones (sonata, symphony, concerto), though he was by no means unfamiliar with the latter.
A large part of his scores are to be found at the Thessaloniki University Library (Department of Musical Studies), along with a 2002 thesis Christina Anastassiou.[5]
Selected works
Compositions
For orchestra
- Introduction and Round Dance from Epirus
- Prelude and Dance from Epirus
- Greek Dances (on motives taken from Greek Island tunes)
For military band
- Introduction and Round Dance from Epirus
- On the Mountain Slopes of Zagori
- The Booted Eagle
- Thessaly (march)
Chamber music
- Little Suite for clarinet and bassoon
- Elegy for two clarinets
Piano music
- Greek Dances
- Little Greek Suite (4 hands)
Songs
- Listen to my Secret
- The Hazelnut Tree
- The Sailor
- The Shepherdess' Lover
- The Heart of a Woman (for 4 voices)
Arrangements and transcriptions
For Orchestra
- Little Lemon Tree
- The Zalongo Dance
- Vassiliki (Gives the Orders)
- Farewell, ye Fair Maids
- Lyngos
For Military Band
- Hymn to Liberty
- Florilège (Songs by Attique)
- Prayer (Bortniansky)
- Reveille (for the Infantry)
- Reveille (for the Artillery)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ioannina and Contemporary Art Project (2010). "Kastellis Margaritis". Municipality of Ioannina
- ↑ Βουνοπλαγιές του Ζαγορίου : φαντασία για μπάντα / υπό Καστέλλης, Μαργαρίτης, 1907-1972. Horizon Information Portal. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ↑ Egon Wellesz; Miloš Velimirović (1979). Studies in Eastern chant. Oxford U.P. p. 205.
- ↑ Hellenic Military Academy. "National Anthem". Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ↑ Greek National Documentation Centre (EKT). Biography and thematic project list Margaritis Kastelli. Retrieved 9 February 2015 (Greek)