Carlo Calvi

Carlo Calvi was an Italian guitarist and music publisher active around 1646. His significance lies in the publication of a collection for baroque guitar in five courses, Intavolatura di chitarra, e chitarriglia, printed in Bologna.

The book includes instructions on reading tablature and tuning the instrument, followed by 65 strummed pieces (battute) and 24 plucked pieces (pizzicate). Its forms include the passacaglia, the ciaccona, the folia, the spagnoletto and the ruggiero. The title page mentions works by two 'professori', without giving their names.

According to scholars, 25 of the strummed pieces are paraphrases of Francesco Corbetta; the other 'professore' remains unidentified. Many of the pieces have earlier versions, so it is unclear whether Calvi was a composer or an arranger.