Carlo Antonio Gambara

Carlo Antonio Gambara was an Italian mandolinist and composer in the early 19th century. He composed works during a time when interest in mandolin music was stagnant.^[1] He was also a knight of the Order of the Couronne de Fer, born a nobleman.^[2] He attended a college for the sons of nobility at Parma, studying mandolin there for eight years, under Caunetti, maestro di cappella.^[2]

He was referred to by the title Cavaliere in Philip J. Bone's musician's biography.^[2] The Order of the Iron Crown (Couronne de Fer) was an honorary order founded on 5 June 1805 in Milan by Napoleon I, acting as king of the Kingdom of Italy (1805-1814), on the model of the Legion of Honor. The order was restored in Milan by the Emperor of Austria, King of Lombard-Venetian Kingdom, in 1816.

Works

Gambara's compositions are principally instrumental, and include:

• Four symphonies for grand orchestra^[2]
• Quintet for mandolin, harp, violin, viola and violoncello^[2]
• Il trionfo d'amore, 1806 by Friedrich von Schiller; Odoardo Donesmondi; Carlo Antonio Gambara; Marianna Guerrieri
• Haydn coronato in Elicona: Poemetto, 1809
• Inno ad Imeneo, 1811 Carlo Antonio Gambara; Angela Martinengo; Odoardo Donismondi
• La festa delle grazie di Cristoforo Wieland, 1822 by Christoph Martin Wieland; Carlo Antonio Gambara

References

1. Paul Sparks, The Classical Mandolin, Oxford University Press, page 1-5, 8
2. Philip J. Bone, The Guitar and Mandolin, biographies of celebrated players and composers for these instruments, London: Schott and Co., 1914.

See also

• Order of the Iron Crown (in Italian)