Orlando di Lasso, a prominent composer on this album, was known for his genius in polyphonic music and his unparalleled imagination for unique instrumental and vocal combinations.
Interpretation
This recording features several pieces performed at the 1568 royal wedding that have been newly identified through recent research and are heard for the first time in 450 years in their original forces.
Compositional Technique
During the 1568 royal wedding, compositions were regularly transposed up or down for instrumental performances, and unison writing and octaves were common when instruments were involved, despite strict compositional rules.
Historical Context
The album recreates music from the lavish 1568 royal wedding of Prince Wilhelm of Bavaria and Renata of Lorraine, which lasted two weeks and involved aristocracy and ambassadors from across Europe.
Historical Context
The Munich Hofkapelle, led by Orlando di Lasso, was one of Europe's finest musical institutions in the 1560s, with around 70 members including singers, instrumentalists, and organists.
Composition History
Orlando di Lasso, the director of the Munich Hofkapelle, composed several new works for the 1568 royal wedding and performed them alongside pieces by other contemporary composers.
Composer Biography
Annibale Padovano, a composer featured on this album, was an organist at San Marco for 13 years before joining the Graz court and attending the Munich wedding celebrations with the Graz Hofkapelle.
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