Melani L. Skybell - Through the Years - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Brilliant Classics has long been renowned for reviving little-known figures from the Baroque and Renaissance eras. Little enough is now known about Alessandro Melani, and his music has almost been forgotten, but this beautifully prepared collection of his religious music should go some way to reviving his reputation. Born in 1639 in the city of Pistoia to the cathedral's bell-ringer, the youngest of seven sons, Alessandro Melani undertook his musical apprenticeship at the cathedral before taking up directorships in grander Italian cities. A move to Rome in 1667 changed his career and established his reputation; he came under the patronage of the Medici family, and published three collections of sacred music. The last of them now receives it's first-ever complete recording. This is Baroque vocal chamber music at once sombre and sumptuous, reverent and yet richly decorated like the basilicas where Melani worked. Marian hymns, penitential psalms and liturgical propers all receive lavish treatments in combinations of two, three and five voices, buttressed in this recording by a five-part continuo accompaniment designed to draw out every one of Melani's luscious harmonies and featuring organ, harpsichord, cello, string bass, archlute and theorbo. The recording is the work of a dynamic young Italian early-music group founded in 2017 and led by the prodigiously talented Samuele Lastrucci, formerly assistant to the mercurial Baroque expert Federico Maria Sardelli. Since 2015 he has been the artistic director of the Tuscan-based Da Vinci Baroque Festival; he is presently maestro di capella of the Church of Ss. Michele and Gaetano in Florence. Album Tracks 1. Alessandro Melani Concerti Spirituali, Op. 3 2. XI. Ad Arma Cor Meum 3. XII. Peccantem Me Quotidie 4. V. Cantemus Domino 5. IV. Eia in Arma 6. X. O Felix Anima 7. VIII. Fallacicum Sono 8. XIII. Quid Do

Album has been out of print for over 30 years. Recorded live in front of a small private audience in a residential studio in Miami in 1978. This unique album includes brand new songs along with some classics such as 'Nickel Song', 'Ruby Tuesday', 'Brand New Key'. The latter was performed in the style that Melanie had originally envisioned it to be. The pinnacle of this album is arguably the stunning version of the single InchCycloneInch which segues into the classic InchCandles in the Rain Inch. Of this album Melanie defiantly said, InchI wasn't making this album for the music industry, I was making it for me - this is who I am, this is what I do, and if you don't like, too bad.Inch And the album sounds all the better for it, being as organic as you can get - a singer songwriter and an elite band of musicians doing what they do best... this album is one of the overlooked classics in the Melanie catalogue. Album Tracks 1. Running After Love 2. Holdin' Out 3. Cyclone / Candles in the Rain 4. Beautiful Sadness 1. Do You Believe 2. Nickel Song 3. Any Guy 4. Look What They Did to My Song 5. I Believe 1. Poet 2. Save Me 3. Together Alone 4. Ruby Tuesday 1. Buckle Down 2. Miranda 3. Brand New Key 4. Groundhog Day 5. Friends & Company

Elisabeth Melander writes Inch... thoughts and sounds from my heart... In the midst of the escalating pandemic, as social separation and new considerations about life took over, the thoughts and ideas for this jazz album emerged. The album mainly represents my own compositions and lyrics combined with a jazz trio, string quartet and guest soloists. In addition, the great jazz pianist and composer, Lars Jansson, mailed me a bevy of compositions which inspired me to write the lyrics. What an honor... and, for me, a welcome addition, contributing another dimension to my own and other selected songs. Pianist Martin Berggren and I have made music together for several years. This led to the idea of incorporating him and his jazz trio... which includes David Andersson, bass and Andreas Baw, drums... on my album. Martin has also contributed beautiful string arrangements for the amazing Bergdala String Quartet. In the process, my intention for the different songs has been to include special guest solo musicians thereby adding a special excitement to the music. I invited some of my favorite soloists, who are also some of Sweden's most celebrated jazz musicians... Inch