L'arpa Barberini: Music for Harp & Soprano in Early Baroque Rome

Featuring

Margret Köll
Roberta Invernizzi
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger
Luigi Rossi
Orazio Michi
Paolo Quagliati

Girolamo Frescobaldi
Anonymous

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Recording & Production

This album features a 2007 copy of the historic Arpa Barberini, played by Margret Köll, accompanying soprano Roberta Invernizzi and performing solo pieces.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The monodic style, central to early 17th-century Italian music, emphasized melodic freedom and understandable lyrics, breaking from strict counterpoint rules.

Historical Context

In 17th-century Rome, many noble Italian families moved to the city to be near the ecclesiastical power, competing in grandeur to secure high curial offices.

Historical Context

Pope Urban VIII, elected in 1623, aimed to be an "urban" pope, associating himself with Rome as a power structure and an artistic center during his 21-year pontificate.

Composer Biography

Orazio Michi, a harpist, was so renowned that Roman music chronicler Pietro della Valle called him "Orazio dell'Arpa" (Orazio of the Harp) in 1640.

Composer Biography

Girolamo Frescobaldi, a virtuoso keyboard player, was so influential that a contemporary theorist stated, "He who does not play today according to his style, has lost any respect as a musician."