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. Ioannina and Contemporary Art Project (2010). "Kastellis Margaritis". Municipality of Ioannina
  2. Βουνοπλαγιές του Ζαγορίου : φαντασία για μπάντα / υπό Καστέλλης, Μαργαρίτης, 1907-1972. Horizon Information Portal. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  3. Egon Wellesz; Miloš Velimirović (1979). Studies in Eastern chant. Oxford U.P. p. 205.
  4. Hellenic Military Academy. "National Anthem" Archived 2015-02-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. Greek National Documentation Centre (EKT). Biography and thematic project list Margaritis Kastelli. Retrieved 9 February 2015 (in Greek)
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