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". Retrieved 9 February 2015.
5. Greek National Documentation Centre (EKT). Biography and thematic project list Margaritis Kastelli. Retrieved 9 February 2015 (Greek)