Ratis: Canzonette spirituali, e morali

Featuring

Bud Roach
Sheila Dietrich
Jennifer Ens Modolo
David Roth
Capella Intima
Francesco Ratis

Did you know?

1/7

Historical Context

These canzonettas were composed for spiritual exercises practiced by the Congregation of the Oratory, founded by St. Philip Neri, who emphasized a personal, honest simplicity in one's relationship with God.

Album & Artwork

The album's concept is to present sacred canzonettas from the Oratory of San Filippo Neri in Chiavenna, which borrow freely from popular dances and melodies and apply sacred texts aligned with the founder's teachings.

Compositional Technique

The collection incorporates the baroque guitar, with alfabeto notation being the only indicated accompaniment for many of the 109 separate works, defying the common church regulations against instruments other than the organ.

Composition History

The Canzonette Spirituali, e Morali were published in Milan in 1657 and are attributed to Francesco Ratis, a priest from Como who was organist at the Church of San Lorenzo in Chiavenna.

Interpretation

The performers have taken liberties with rhythm or text for dramatic or humorous purposes, believing these departures would have been welcomed at the Chiavenna Oratory, given St. Philip Neri's teachings on humor and lightness of heart.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The Canzonette Spirituali, e Morali defy many conventions of 17th-century sacred music in terms of text, instrumentation, and style, refusing to fit neatly into a single genre.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The texts of these canzonettas often apply familiar images of Italian love poetry to music in praise of God, reflecting the philosophy of St. Philip Neri, who concerned himself with personal rather than traditional dogma.