Barbara Strozzi, a celebrated female composer and singer of the Baroque era, studied with Cavalli and published numerous collections that gained her a European reputation.
Composition History
Giulio Caccini, a member of the Florentine Camerata, titled his emblematic 1602 collection Le nuove musiche (New Music) to highlight the novelty of his compositions.
Instruments
Lutenist Luca Pianca used an archlute with thirteen single courses, tuned in G, for this recording, a configuration some consider 'unhistorical' but is supported by Baroque-era documents.
Historical Context
The Renaissance period saw a 'reconquest' of individual expression in music, moving from the polyphonic style of the Middle Ages to monodic forms.
Composer Biography
Claudio Monteverdi was a pioneer in opera, first with court operas and later by bringing opera to the public in Venice.
Performer Biography
Luca Pianca, a co-founder of Il Giardino Armonico, has recorded over seventy CDs, including the complete lute works of Bach and Vivaldi.
Compositional Technique
Caccini's musical experiments led to the distinction between recitative and aria, which were quickly adopted by the emerging genre of opera.
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