L’Amorosa Caccia. 24 Five-voice Madrigals by Mantuan Masters (Venezia 1588/1592)

SKU: UT.ODH-35

ISBN 9790215322578. 9 x 12 inches.

L’amorosa 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.