Gasparo da Salò (May 20, 1542, Salò - April 14, 1609) is the name given to Gasparo di Bertolotti, one of the earliest violin makers and expert double bass player of which many and very detailed historical records (about 100 documents and over 80 original instruments) exist.
He was born in Salò on Lake Garda, in a family with legal, artistic, musical and craft interests. His grandfather Santino, a land and flock owner, probably producer of musical gut strings, moved from Polpenazze to Salò, capital of the Riviera del Garda, to give more opportunities to the family. The art and music scene in Salò was very rich and vibrant. Gasparo is the son and grandson of two brothers musicians, players and composers of the highest professional level, Francesco and Agostino, specialized enough to be called in documents “the violì” or even in extended form, to avoid doubts, “ the violini”. [1]
Uncle Agostino in addition to being an expert in musical instruments [2], will become the first Kapellmeister of Salò and his son Bernardino, Gasparo's cousin, become a virtuoso musician (violinist and trombonist) working prior in Ferrara at the powerful Este music court, then in Mantua by Vincenzo Gonzaga I during Monteverdi presence, and then went to Rome as "Musician of His Holiness the Pope in the Castle of S.Angel. "
Gasparo's musical education, certainly of the highest level seen the previous environment, takes place in the family life and in the wake of ever higher goals achieved by the lyra and viola players from Salò active in the Basilica of St. Marco in Venice, and from the Brescian violinists active also in Venice and in the European courts from the early 1540 until the end of the century. The deep musical performing education, most likely has been reached by emulation of parents, and accompanying the family violin duo, since in a document in Bergamo, in 1604, concerning music in S. Maria Maggiore, is cited as a very talented violone player.
Gasparo da Salò (May 20, 1542, Salò - April 14, 1609) is the name given to Gasparo di Bertolotti, one of the earliest violin makers and expert double bass player of which many and very detailed historical records (about 100 documents and over 80 original instruments) exist.
He was born in Salò on Lake Garda, in a family with legal, artistic, musical and craft interests. His grandfather Santino, a land and flock owner, probably producer of musical gut strings, moved from Polpenazze to Salò, capital of the Riviera del Garda, to give more opportunities to the family. The art and music scene in Salò was very rich and vibrant. Gasparo is the son and grandson of two brothers musicians, players and composers of the highest professional level, Francesco and Agostino, specialized enough to be called in documents “the violì” or even in extended form, to avoid doubts, “ the violini”. [1]
Uncle Agostino in addition to being an expert in musical instruments [2], will become the first Kapellmeister of Salò and his son Bernardino, Gasparo's cousin, become a virtuoso musician (violinist and trombonist) working prior in Ferrara at the powerful Este music court, then in Mantua by Vincenzo Gonzaga I during Monteverdi presence, and then went to Rome as "Musician of His Holiness the Pope in the Castle of S.Angel. "
Gasparo's musical education, certainly of the highest level seen the previous environment, takes place in the family life and in the wake of ever higher goals achieved by the lyra and viola players from Salò active in the Basilica of St. Marco in Venice, and from the Brescian violinists active also in Venice and in the European courts from the early 1540 until the end of the century. The deep musical performing education, most likely has been reached by emulation of parents, and accompanying the family violin duo, since in a document in Bergamo, in 1604, concerning music in S. Maria Maggiore, is cited as a very talented violone player.