Cangiasi: Scherzi Forastieri

Description

Giovanni Antonio Cangiasi (? - c.1614), an Italian composer and organist active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Born in Milan, Cangiasi was a Franciscan friar who held various esteemed positions throughout his career. From 1588 to at least 1590, he served as the organist at Vercelli Cathedral, culminating in his appointment as the organist at the Chiesa Maggiore in Castelnuovo Scrivia in 1614. Among Cangiasi's extant works, the "Scherzi Forastieri per suonare a quattro voci," published in Milan in 1614, forms his most important collection. This opus comprises instrumental canzonas for four voices, exemplifying the intricate polyphonic style characteristic of the late Renaissance period. The term "scherzi forastieri" can be translated to "foreign jests," suggesting a collection imbued with playful and diverse musical ideas. Each piece within the collection bears a distinctive title, such as "La Stella," "La Guerra," and "La Marina," which may reference contemporary figures, events, or abstract concepts, providing insight into the cultural and social milieu of the time. Played on the clavichord and the harpsichord by Federico Del Sordo, one of Italy's foremost Early Music musicians and scholars, with an impressive discography to his name.