The cantatas on this album are drawn from a manuscript collection in Naples, which also includes five anonymous pieces and works by other composers.
Composer Biography
Diogenio Bigaglia, a Benedictine monk, was born in Murano, Venice, in 1678, just one week after Antonio Vivaldi.
Composer Biography
Bigaglia, despite his monastic duties, was highly esteemed in Venetian musical circles for his theoretical knowledge, with other composers often seeking his advice.
Composition History
The opening aria of Bigaglia's cantata "Non lasciarmi o bella speme" bears a striking resemblance to the opening melody of J.S. Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056.
Compositional Technique
The cantatas feature a classical alternation of arias and recitatives, with a medium level of difficulty and musical solutions typical of the Baroque era.
Compositional Technique
All the cantatas on this album are about love, frequently using literary themes like yearning for unrequited love or declarations of revenge.
