1629 was a remarkable year for new music in Venice. Heinrich Schutz, came to the city to learn of the latest music from Claudio Monteverdi and his contemporaries, publishing the seminal first volume of his 'Symphoniae Sacrae' during his visit. With the publication of further landmark collections from Dario Castello, Alessandro Grandi and Biagio Marini, this particular year provided a key moment in the development of the Italian Baroque style. Acclaimed period ensemble The Gonzaga Band makes it's Resonus debut with a fascinating programme of works from this period that chart the journey through this incredible year for music. The Gonzaga Band was formed by cornettist Jamie Savan in 1997, with a mission to explore the intimate relationship between vocal and instrumental performance practice in the early Modern period. The ensemble takes it's name from the ducal family of Mantua: the Gonzagas were powerful and influential patrons of the arts in the late Renaissance, who employed Claudio Monteverdi as their maestro della musica at the turn of the seventeenth century. Monteverdi wrote some of his most innovative music for the Gonzagas: his third, fouth and fifth books of madrigals, the operas Orfeo and Arianna, and the Vespers of 1610.
A**R
Excellent performances
Some excellent historically-informed performances here from leading players and singers. The presence of a 'real' Italian organ (rather than a modern box organ) transforms the music. The only thing is that being comprised of music for violins, cornetti and soprano, the music is consistently treble-heavy: it'd have been nice to hear a dulcian or sackbut for a bit of variety. This really is nitpicking though. Can't wait for the next one!
M**N
Wonderful, authentic performance
We were fortunate to attend a concert given by the Gonzaga Band in the Chapel where this CD was recorded and it was spine-tingling in its performance. If you like early music, authentically played, this is for you.
C**O
Baroque moins connu et basique
Cd excellent état. Livraison rapide. Echantillon de compositions moins diffusées
A**S
Excellent
I love this recording. Bravo!
