Udite amanti: 17th Century Italian Love Songs

Featuring

Jill Feldman
Nigel North
Claudio Monteverdi
Giulio Caccini
Jacopo Peri
Sigismondo d'India

Giacomo Carissimi
Luigi Rossi
Tarquinio Merula
Stefano Landi
Barbara Strozzi

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

Giacomo Carissimi's 'Lamento della Regina Maria Stuarda' is chamber music but is highly theatrical, depicting Mary, Queen of Scots lamenting her fate before execution.

Recording & Production

This album of 17th Century Italian Love Songs was recorded in March 1990 at St Martin's Church, East Woodhay, Newbury, UK.

Compositional Technique

Tarquinio Merula's 'Canzonetta Spirituale sopra alla nanna' is constructed entirely on a two-note ground bass, evoking a rocking motion to accompany the Virgin Mary's song.

Compositional Technique

Sigismondo d'India's 'Piangono al pianger mio' is built upon 'La Romanesca', a traditional ground bass used for musical declamation of epic texts.

Compositional Technique

Claudio Monteverdi's 'Lettera amorosa' is a chamber music piece that he himself described as 'in genere rappresentativo' due to its declamatory style.

Historical Context

The distinction between chamber music and theatrical music, like opera, was blurred in the 17th century, with opera sections performed privately and chamber pieces containing dramatic elements.

Composition History

Two pieces on this album, Jacopo Peri's 'Per quel vago boschetto' from Euridice and Stefano Landi's 'Lamento della sposa' from Sant'Alessio, originated as theatrical works.