Monteverdi: Messa a quattro voci et salmi of 1650 Volume I

Featuring

Elin Manahan Thomas
George Pooley
Grace Davidson
Harry Christophers
Jeremy Budd
Jimmy Holliday

Kim Porter
Mark Dobell
Steven Harrold
Stuart Young
The Sixteen
Claudio Monteverdi

Did you know?

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Composition History

The 1650 Messa et salmi collection, far from being mere leftovers, includes some of Monteverdi's most attractive, novel, and inventive music.

Composition History

The contents of the 1650 Messa et salmi were likely collected by its printer, Alessandro Vincenti, possibly with help from Francesco Cavalli, then first organist of San Marco.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Performing Monteverdi's sacred music, like his operas, requires following his dictum of recitar cantando (speak through singing), allowing for expressive freedom and intuitive time relationships.

Historical Context

The strong devotion to the Virgin Mary in Venice was reinforced after the 1571 Battle of Lepanto, where victory over the Turks was attributed to the Madonna of the Rosary.

Recording & Production

This recording was made 'in the round,' with the harpsichord placed on top of the chamber organ, and other instruments and the choir arranged for eye contact and easy communication.

Composition History

This album features music from Monteverdi's 1650 collection, Messa a quattro voci et salmi, which contains previously unpublished works issued after his death.