Early 17th-century instrumental music developed in three stylistic directions: diminution, polyphonic genres (like ricercar and canzona), and monodic/concerto styles.
Instruments
The church of St. Laurent in Lausanne, where some recordings were made, uniquely offers up to six keyboard instruments for concerts, including Spanish and Italian organs.
Recording & Production
The recording uses manual blowing for the organs, not for 'folklore', but because the sound is more alive than with an electric blower.
Instruments
The harpsichord used in the recording is a historic instrument by Johannes Ruckers, originally from 1632, that was enlarged and rebuilt in 1745.
Historical Context
Around 1600, instrumental music began to emancipate itself from vocal models, leading to the development of distinct instrumental genres.
Instruments
Marin Mersenne, a 17th-century French music theorist, described the cornett's sound as 'a ray of sunshine piercing the shadows or the darkness'.
Compositional Technique
While canzonas tended to remain polyphonic in the 'stile antico' throughout the 17th century, sonatas were freer in form and more open to innovations.
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