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).^{[citation needed]}

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

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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. ISBN 978-0-913836-57-6.
^ Hellenic Military Academy. "National Anthem" Archived 2015-02-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
^ Greek National Documentation Centre (EKT). Biography and thematic project list Margaritis Kastelli. Retrieved 9 February 2015 (in Greek)

[Ioannnina-1] Ioannina and Contemporary Art Project (2010). "Kastellis Margaritis". Municipality of Ioannina

[Horizon-2] Βουνοπλαγιές του Ζαγορίου : φαντασία για μπάντα / υπό Καστέλλης, Μαργαρίτης, 1907-1972. Horizon Information Portal. Retrieved 14 February 2015.

[WelleszVelimirović1979-3] Egon Wellesz; Miloš Velimirović (1979). Studies in Eastern chant. Oxford U.P. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-913836-57-6.

[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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