Renato Criscuolo - 17th-Century Music for Canto & Basso - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Ah, Che Pur Troppo È Vero - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 2. Col Partir la Bella Clori - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 3. In Solitaria Parte - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 4. Care Mura! - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 5. Numi Ingiusti Spietati - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 6. Da Che Perso Ho la Mia Clori - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 7. I. Largo - Recondita Armonia 8. II. Vivace - Recondita Armonia 9. III. Furioso - Recondita Armonia 10. IV. Adagio - Recondita Armonia 11. V. Alla Breve - Recondita Armonia 12. VI. Andante - Recondita Armonia 13. VII. a Tempo Di Menuet - Recondita Armonia 14. Dolce Pur D'amor L'affanno - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 15. Il Viver Sempre in Pene - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 16. Se Piú Non T'amo Non Ti Doler - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 17. I. Adagio - Recondita Armonia 18. II. Allegro - Recondita Armonia 19. III. Adagio - Recondita Armonia 20. IV. Bourrée Angloise - Recondita Armonia 21. V. Menuetto - Recondita Armonia 22. Care Selve, Aure Grate - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 23. Ridite a Clori - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 24. Se Cangiarsi Potesse - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia 25. Non Ha Forza Nel Mio Petto - Jorge Juan Morata/Recondita Armonia

Giuseppe Corsi (c.1631/1691), known as Celani, was one of the most important composers of the Roman school active in the second half of the 17th century. Corsi's catalogue of works includes around 23 secular compositions including Cantatas for one voice and basso continuo. The protagonist of the cantata Dalle balze sicane is the mythological Enceladus who, having been plunged into the bowels of Mount Etna by the goddess Athena, invokes Jupiter to placate the outrage against him. The character's 'misfortunes' and 'sorrows' of love in Cruda legge del mio fato find analogies with those experienced by the composer. The first aria in this cantata is rich in complex enharmonics, greatly expanded and varied in the repeat, when the voice is engaged in difficult bravura passages. The cantata Abbandonato e solo begins with a veritable monologue from Roman emperor Nero, tormented by his past ghosts. The cantata on this album by Giacomo Antonio Perti (1661-1756), Pompe, voi che ascondete, although attributed to Corsi's favourite pupil, is in fact still of unproven authorship. It is possible that Giuseppe Corsi met Giovanni Battista Vitali (1632-1692). The two composers in 1685 took part in the famous dispute over parallel fifths in Arcangelo Corelli's Sonata Op.2 No.3. The bass of the violin family, of which Vitali was a virtuoso, was widespread thanks to the Este patronage of Duke Francesco I. In his cantatas, Corsi repeatedly insists on the B flat grave, a characteristic of violin bass tuning, and the numerous semiquaver passages are particularly agile on the violone, so it is not unlikely that the composer from Marsica had this instrument in mind. It is also for this reason that Corsi's compositions have been joined by some movements from the Partite sopra diverse sonatas for the violone by Vitali that are particularly pleasing. Album Tracks 1. * Dalle Balze Sicane, Tric

1956 was an excellent year, vocalists and groups were breaking away from the big band sounds of the early fifties. Rock InchNInch Roll was in the ascendancy and it was the year that saw the first Elvis Presley film InchLove Me TenderInch appear in cinemas world wide. The Platters singing group had smash hits with InchMy PrayerInch and InchThe Great PretenderInch. Fats Domino had a hit with InchI'm In Love AgainInch and Carl Perkins worried about his InchBlue Suede ShoesInch which must have been infectious as Elvis had the same problem. One of the big Broadway productions of that year was Lerner and Loewe's InchMy Fair LadyInch and we have featured a selection of tracks from that show on this CD. 1956 was a very good year indeed.