Choir; Early Music; Voice
SKU: UT.ODH-35
Edited by Stefania Lanzo.
Paperback (Soft Cover).
Odhecaton. Classical.
Softcover. 144 pages. Ut
Orpheus #ODH 35.
Published by Ut Orpheus
(UT.ODH-35).
ISBN
9790215322578. 9 x 12
inches.
L’am
orosa caccia is a
collection of 24
madrigals for five
voices, created specially
by as many composers
originating from Mantua.
All were distinguished
professional people,
working within the
church, at court or in
the Palatine basilica of
Saint Barbara, and music
lovers of noble birth
from the area who were
somehow connected to the
Academy of the Invaghiti,
or perhaps part of the
same. Among the
established musicians of
the collection are to be
mentioned: G.M. Bacchino,
H. Baccusi, P. Cantino,
A. Coma, G. Moro, S.
Nascimbeni, A. Nuvoloni,
N. Parma, G.B. Recalchi,
F. Rovigo, A. Striggio,
R. Trofeo. The
lesser-known, however,
seem to be: C. Accelli,
E. Ceruti, S. Cressoni,
P. Marni, A. Preti, while
the following: H.
Borelli, C. Ceruti, O.
Grassi, P. Massari, G.B.
Orto, F. Ramesini, C.
Zucca have become known
as composers only thanks
to L’amorosa
caccia.
The
realization in score of
the madrigals has made it
possible to bring to
light this collection,
establishing its actual
musical value and proving
the remarkable mastery of
madrigal writing of these
24 musicians and offering
the opportunity to
highlight each
one’s different
skill as a composer. If
some of them have proved
to be completely in line
with the practices of the
time, verging on
Augenmusik, others stand
out for the wide variety
of their harmonies,
melodies and rhythms,
seeking the best musical
expressions to express
the affetti contained in
the text.
There are
no major breakthroughs,
but, if the contrapuntal
procedures are as to be
expected, the body of
voices, the
experimentation, the
interplay between the
parts and the harmonic
sensitivity show
familiarity with the
vocal virtuosity of the
concerti di dame of
Ferrara and Mantua,
bringing out what was
most modern at the time.
The possibility that
these madrigals may
actually have been
performed by that very
group of talented singers
is enchanting and
entirely plausible.