Unlike opera seria, duets are rare in Italian oratorios from 1670-1740, often serving as brief transitional scenes.
Instruments
In Bologna, the cello began to emancipate from the basso continuo, leading to the 'violoncello spezzato' — an independent cello line.
Historical Context
The preference for oratorios among Roman composers in the late 17th century was due to the Vatican's political opposition to theater, which led to the demolition of the Teatro Tordinona in 1697.
Compositional Technique
The album reflects the development of the aria from strophic form to the ternary (ABA) da capo aria, with examples from composers like Pasquini, Colonna, and Gabrielli.
Instruments
The earliest recorded use of the term 'violoncello' in a musical work dates back to 1665, in an anthology by Bolognese composer Giulio Cesare Arresti.
Compositional Technique
Domenico Gabrielli, known for his challenging solo cello Ricercares, also composed an aria with an unusual trio of soloists for the time: cello, violin, and theorbo.
Composition History
It was common for music to be transferred from an opera to an oratorio during this period, as seen in Antonio Caldara's aria 'Si pensi alla vendetta' which parodies an opera aria.
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