Johannes Hieronymus Kapsberger

The Profile

Composer and virtuoso of the chitarrone/theorbo and lute active in Rome in the early 17th century; published intavolature and villanelle collections.

Known for works for chitarrone, theorbo and lute; published collections such as Libro Primo (1611) and Libro Quarto (1640). Often referred to by the nickname Il Tedesco.

The available review reads as a poetic, slightly ambivalent appreciation of Kapsberger's chitarone music, noting austere harmonic motion and terse textures. It frames the music as arcane, Venetian in atmosphere. The page collects recordings and editions of his intavolature and villanelle output.