A prevailing feature of music of the 16th century and earlier was a split between the deployment of voices and instruments: occasionally replacing each other, or used in alternation – a more concerted effort in writing dedicated instrumental music with increasing degrees of complexity and virtuosity was taking place. The penchant for writing stories about love in it’s many forms continued, finding a new home in the developing operatic works as well as the ever-popular madrigal genre, as composers continued to find ways to describe the joy, grief, despair and ecstasy of the human experience of love. Cupid’s Ground Bass is a celebration of these developing musical aesthetics of early 17th century Italy, focusing particularly on the composers’ language of love in all it’s forms.

Tracklist:

1. Cantate, ariette e duetti, Op. 2~No. 2
2. Amor dormiglione
3. Sonate, arie et correnti, Op. 3~Aria quinta sopra. La Bergamasca
4. Pavane, Gagliarde, Libro 2~Capriccio stravagante a 4: La Lira
5. Gli amori d’Apollo e di Dafne~Act III. Misero Apollo
6. Giasone~Sinfonia
7. Giasone~Act I. Delizie, contenti che l’alma beate
8. Musiche sacre: Canzon 3
9. Giasone~Act I. Se dardo pungente
10. Intavolatura di chitarone, Libro 4: Toccata No. 1
11. Mystery (Rosary) Sonata No. 1 in D minor, ‘The Annunciation’~Prludium
12. Mystery (Rosary) Sonata No. 1 in D minor, ‘The Annunciation’~Variatio – Aria allegro – Variatio – Adagio – Finale
13. Intavolatura di chitarone, Libro 4: Capona
14. incoronazione di Poppea, SV308~Act II. Oblivion soave
15. Intavolatura di chitarone, Libro 4: Canario
16. Arie a voce sola, Op. 8~Che si pu fare?
17. Scherzi musicali cio arie et madrigali, SV 246-251~No.
18. Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti, SV 251

UPC: 5060216349183
Label: First Hand
Release Date: 11.21.25
Format: CD