This album is the first recording of Pietro Porfiri's only extant printed collection of cantatas, which are rarely performed.
Composition History
Porfiri published his collection of seven Cantate da camera a voce sola in 1692 while serving as Maestro di Cappella in Fabriano.
Composer Biography
Pietro Porfiri, the composer of these cantatas, was a priest who was born around 1640 in Mondolfo, a town near the Adriatic coast.
Compositional Technique
A notable feature of Porfiri's cantatas is the prominent role given to the violoncello, sometimes acting as a 'second singer' in a duet with the voice.
Composer Biography
Porfiri resigned from his position as Maestro di Cappella in Fabriano in 1692 due to unpaid salary.
Historical Context
The development of new wire-wound strings in Bologna in the 1660s allowed for smaller bass violins, called violoncelli, which were played both vertically and horizontally.
Compositional Technique
Porfiri's cantatas often feature daring and complex harmonies, including extreme key choices like F# Major with its dominant C# Major, and surprising chromaticisms and modulations.
