Con arte e maestria: Virtuoso violin ornamentation from the Italian Baroque - RES10282

Con arte e maestria: Virtuoso violin ornamentation from the Italian Baroque

£12.99
Total playing time [78:45]

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Oliver Webber (violin)
Steven Devine (harpsichord & organ)

The decades around 1600 bore witness to the flourishing of a remarkable musical tradition: the art of diminution, in which simple melodies were given exquisitely virtuosic embellishments, effectively creating new works. One such creation, Francesco Rognoni’s ornamentation of Palestrina’s Io son ferito, was captioned ‘con arte e maestria’ – with art and mastery – referring to the consummate craftsmanship displayed in its invention and performance.

Giving new life to this tradition was the inspiration for this unique programme: alongside iconic works from the diminution canon, Monteverdi String Band members Oliver Webber and Steven Devine present newly ornamented versions of a selection of sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century works.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Giovanni Bassano (c.1561–1617)
1. Ricercata prima

Cipriano de Rore (c.1515–1565)
(ornaments by Riccardo Rognoni, c.1550–c.1620)
2. Anchor che col partire

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525–1594)
(ornaments by Oliver Webber b.1969)
3. Deh hor foss’io col vago della luna

Ascanio Mayone (c.1565–1627)
4. Canzon francese prima

Biagio Marini (1594–1663)
5. Sinfonia ‘La Gardana’

Oliver Webber
(after Giovanni Bassano)
6. Ricercata

Thomas Crecquillon (c.1505–c.1557)
(ornaments by Oliver Webber)
7. Par trop souffrir de fortune ennemie

Orlando di Lasso (c.1532–1594)
(ornaments by Girolamo dalla Casa, d.1601)
8. Susanne ung jour

Gärtner (dates unknown)
9. Toccata

Biagio Marini
10. Sinfonia ‘L’Orlandina’

Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1555–1612)
11. Toccata del secondo tuono

Tomas Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611)
(ornaments by Giovanni Battista Bovicellim, fl. late 16th century)
12. Dilectus tuus candidus

Cipriano de Rore
(ornaments by Oliver Webber)
13. Signor mio caro

Oliver Webber
(after Claudio Monteverdi et al.)
14. Ciaccona

Michelangelo Rossi (c.1601–1656)
15. Toccata nona

Dario Castello (1602–1631)
16. Sonata prima

Carlo G (fl. c.1600–1620)
17. Convertisti planctum

Giovanni Paolo Caprioli (c.1580–c.1627)
(ornaments by Oliver Webber)
18. Vulnerasti cor meum

Antonio Mortaro (fl. 1587–1610)
(ornaments by Oliver Webber)
19. Canzona ‘La Malvezza’

Aurelio Virgiliano (fl. c.1600)
20. [Ricercata] on ‘Vestiva i colli’

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(ornaments by Oliver Webber)
21. Così le chiome mie

Andrea Gabrieli (c.1532–1585)
22. Intonazione quarto toni

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(ornaments by Francesco Rognoni, d. c.1626)
23. Io son ferito

“

‘Oliver Webber deserves a knighthood for services to period violin performance […] And this new title would be rather fitting: Webber works his bow with sword-like precision and his sound gleams like metal in moonlight.’

- Gramophone

‘Oliver Webber deserves a knighthood for services to period violin performance […] And this new title would be rather fitting: Webber works his bow with sword-like precision and his sound gleams like metal in moonlight.’
Gramophone

‘This is a stunning, well-constructed programme that will reward repeated listening, whether you want to get to the bottom of the technicalities of Italian Baroque ornamentation, or whether you want to simply relish the virtuosity of these performers in this glorious repertoire.’
Classical Notes

‘This could actually be quite a dry disc, but Webber and Devine's command of the style along with their palpable enthusiasm for the music makes the recital one which is always engaging’
Planet Hugill

‘Here are a number of authentic works from that time – some of which were already treated in this way and some which have been embellished in the style for this recording. It is interesting to see this revival and extension of an ancient tradition.'
Lark Reviews



Credits
© 2021 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2021 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10282
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262793114
Cover image © Ionic column by binabina (istockphoto.com)
Release date: 2 July 2021