Release Date: 01 January 2005
Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 747313239023
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: CARISSIMI
Description
Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674)Jephte Jonas Dai pi?? riposti abissiDedicated to the City of Marino (Rome) on the occasionof the 400th Anniversary of the Birth of GiacomoCarissimi (1605-2005).Giacomo Carissimi began his professional career ascantor, organist and then maestro di cappella ininstitutions near Rome such as the Cathedral of Tivolior the Church of S. Ruffino in Assisi. Towards the endof 1629 his career took an important leap as he took onthe task in the heart of Rome as maestro di cappella atthe Jesuit Collegio Germanico Ungarico withresponsibility for the music of the church ofSant'Apollinare, which belonged to the GermanSeminary. He held this position until his death in 1674.From this highly prestigious position Carissimi wonearly fame throughout Europe, becoming one of theleading figures in the music of the seventeenth century.The obligations of maestro di cappella at theCollege were divided between composition and thedirection of all musical activities of the Seminary, andteaching. Many musicians of the time came to studywith him directly, including the FrenchmanMarc'Antoine Charpentier and the Germans ChristophBernhard and Johann Kaspar Kerll, or indirectly,through the music itself, and learnt this new style ofcomposition. It is owing to Carissimi that much of thistraditional Italian style of composition was maintainedthroughout continental Europe for the entireseventeenth century.Carissimi's activity was not limited to the Collegeonly, but also included important appointments outsidethe Church, such as service as maestro della musica dacamera for Queen Christina of Swede. He alsocollaborated with the Roman Oratories, particularlywith San Marcello, the Oratorio del SantissimoCrocifisso, for which it is quite probable that many ofhis oratorios were composed.There is little direct information concerningperformances at the College or at the SantissimoCrocifisso, but written testimony survives that givessome idea and makes it clear that both institutions hadample means for musical performance. FrancisMortopf, a traveller passing through Rome some time inthe 1650s, is recorded as describing the musicperformed at Santissimo Crocifisso (H.E. Smither: TheOratorio in the Baroque Era): '... a music so sweet andharmonious which, once having left Rome, can never behoped to be heard again on the face of the Earth. It wascomposed with at least twenty voices, organs, lute, violaand two violins, all of which were playing music somelodious and delicious that Cicero with all hiseloquence would never have been able to describe it'.Jephte is perhaps the best known composition ofCarissimi today. Together with Jonas, it is also one ofthe few for which chronological references can beestablished, some time before 1649. The text is a freetreatment of the Old Testament narrative (Judges 11:28-38), and is much fuller than the original biblical text.The narration is entrusted to the Historicus, sung invarious places by different voices. In addition to thepara
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Yang/Schwabe/Dt So/Wit
Wolf Harden
Wolf Harden
