CASTEL DEL MONTE

Castel del Monte is a 13th-century citadel and castle situated on a hill in Andria in the Apulia region of southeast Italy, built during the 1240s by the Emperor Frederick II. Although it is commonly called "castle", the octagonal plan is unusual in castle design and the exact function of the building is still unknown. Devoid of typical military architectural elements, placed in a non strategic position, the building was probably not a fortress. Because of the strong embedded symbolism, it has been hypothesized that the construction could be a kind of temple, or perhaps a kind of temple of wisdom. In any case it is revealed as a great architectural work, a synthesis of sophisticated mathematical, geometric and astronomical knowledge. The image of Castel del Monte - rich of the enchantment that symbolism exercises on the enthusiasts of esoteric sciences, to which Rota belonged - provided inspiration for a suggestive score, full of references to hunting scenes, court dances but also warrior themes. This composition, which dates back to 1974, was dedicated to Domenico Ceccarossi who also performed it for the first time in Lanciano, under the direction of the author himself. Rota kept in consideration the unusual technical skills of Ceccarossi, using a virtuous writing that fully exploits the technical possibilities of the instrument.