Violino òver Cornetto
In the sixteenth century, the quality of a ‘civil conversation’ was a topic of great interest, both within learned academies and in the verbal games of convivial banquets.
As musical virtuosi learned how to ‘speak’ through their instruments, it was only natural that they would also begin to ‘converse’.
After a much acclaimed release in 2023, Seicento Stravagante give us another example of musical conversation, this time between three musicians.
In works by thirteen Italian composers from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the musicians of Seicento Stravagante, recreate the extravagance of early baroque music, when composers wove many individual ‘voices’ (whether vocal or instrumental) into a harmonious whole.
While the compositions could often be played on instruments of various kinds, it was on the violin and cornetto that they could shine most brightly, and the two instruments developed an increasingly close relationship, to the point that they were virtually interchangeable.
This recording allows us to appreciate the subtle blend of colours of these two instruments and the richness of Italian instrumental music of the period.
FULL ALBUM
“Cornettist David Brutti (also an accomplished saxophonist) brings all the spontaneity, pliancy and virtuosity of jazz to these accounts – not to mention a rich-toned lyricism, revealing why the cornett was prized for its affinity with the human voice.” Music Magazine
“In tonal terms, Croce’s brighttoned, gutty stringiness meets Brutti’s combination of softness and edge highly sympathetically… and if you want to hear their responsive and nicely balanced dialogue out on full display.” Gramophone
Tracklist
1. Dario Castello: Sonata quarta – 7:00
2. Giovanni Legrenzi: La Strasolda – 4:21
3. Giuseppe Scarani: Sonata sesta a due soprani sopra Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La – 5:04
4. Girolamo Frescobaldi: Toccata per Spinettina, è Violino – 5:07
5. Giovanni Battista Buonamente: Sonata Quinta a 2 – 4:57
6. Ercole Pasquini: Toccata prima – 5:03
7. Serafino Patta: Canzon Francese La Lampugnana – 2:53
8. Tarquinio Merula: La Gallina – 3:02
9. Gioseppe Giamberti: Cucù – 1:22
10. Marco Uccellini: Aria nona à 3 ‘L’Emenfrodito’ – 3:58
11. Francesco Usper Sponga: Ricercar ottavo – 4:06
12. Gabriele Usper Sponga: Sinfonia – 3:54
13. Biagio Marini: Sonata quinta – 3:17
14. Giovanni Battista Buonamente: Sonata Decima sopra ‘Cavaletto zoppo’ – 3:48
