Various Artists - Lamento - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Lamento di Zaida mora by Luigi Rossi sets a lament by the Moorish girl Zaida for the loss of her lover Mustafa, seized by a Christian marauder and taken as a prisoner to Italy, a characteristic treatment of a subject drawn from the neighboring Islamic world. The lament, in which Zaida inveighs against her barbarous enemy, is framed by introductory and concluding narrative. Rossi himself was born in Torremaggiore about the year 1597 and studied in Naples, where he remained for some years in the service of the court. He later moved to Rome in the service of the Borghese family and became organist at the church of S Luigi dei Francesi in 1633, retaining this position until his death in 1653. He joined the musical establishment of Cardinal Antonio Barberini in 1641 and wrote for him his very successful opera, Il palazzo incantato, followed by a second opera, Orfeo, for the French court, during the period of the Barberinis' exile, after the death of the Barberini Pope, whose patronage was so important to the cultural life of Rome. His compositions include some three hundred or so surviving cantatas in which he captures a blend of recitative, arioso and lyrical aria, as in the present lament, one of seventeen such compositions. Rossi's Ingordo human desio sets a poem in a more regular metre than the varied versi sciolti of the Lamento di Zaida mora, it's ten-line stanzas in a rhyming pattern of seven-syllable lines and hendecasyllabics. This account of the vanity of human wishes again blends recitative, arioso and aria. Album Tracks 1. Lamento Della Ninfa 2. Il Musico Svogliato 3. Lamento Di Zaida Mora 4. Lamento Dell' Impotente 5. Ingordo Human Desio 6. Merce de Voi 7. Lamento Del Castrato 8. Lamento Dei Castrati

In a world filled with increasingly superficial connection between individuals and communities, humanity is yearning like never before to find a real sense of meaning in their lives. Chamber vocal ensemble Cantus ' of fresh, intimate and relevant new vocal works is a journey of longing and self-discovery with trademark virtuosic delivery. 'Manifesto' takes a nuanced look at identity and relationship - with our friends, lovers, family and the divine. In keeping with Cantus' commitment to the creation of new music for tenors, baritones and basses, the preponderance of the works on 'Manifesto' were written specifically for Cantus, and all works are world premiere recordings. The InchengagingInch (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is widely known for it's trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus sound as having both Inchexalting finesseInch and Inchexpressive powerInch and refers to the Inchspontaneous graceInch of it's music making. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the group nothing short of Inchexquisite.Inch As one of the nation's few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus performs more than 75 concerts each year both in national and international touring, and in it's home of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Cantus has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, Atlanta's Spivey Hall and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. Album Tracks 1. Philia 2. Luceat Eis 3. Tango with God 4. Manifesto 5. If I Profane with My Unworthiest Hand 6. To My Brother 7. Gagòt 8. Song of Sky and Sea 9. Psalm of the Soil 10. Evening Stars (A Teasdale Trilogy)

The first track is the Lament of Ariadne by Monteverdi. This is very much an operatic piece with a quiet instrumental accompaniment to a highly operatic vocal solo. The text is a lament of the Cretan princess seemingly abandoned by her lover. The second is an interesting Inchmad womanInch lament with the madness conveyed through InchhystericalInch laughter. While interesting in it's own right as a lament, it is more interesting as an early example of madness in music. The third lament, written by a woman, is based on a historical event. This is a solid piece of Baroque music. The composer of the next piece served as musician in a Jesuit college. The subject of the lament of Mary Queen of Scots. This piece is the most dramatic of the album but with a decidedly religious sound. The next piece is a lament of the Holy Mother, The instrumental accompaniment is subdued, leaving the emphasis to the text which is well performed. Album Tracks 1. Lamento D'arianna 2. Lamento Della Pazza 3. Lamento Del Marchese/Cinq-Mars 4. Lamento Della Regina/Maria Stuarda 5. Lamento Della Madre Ebrea 6. Lamento Della Regina Di Svezia