Release Date: 01 May 2020
Label: Challenge Classics
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 608917284324
Genres: Classical Chamber Music
Composer/Series: L'Arte Di Diminuire
Description
The second release on Challenge Classics by Leonor de Lera and her group of virtuosos, L'Estro di Orfeo. This CD explores the widespread practice of diminutions by presenting published examples of diminutions on well-known motets, by master composers; diminutions on popular melodies or dance forms and finally, diminutions composed by the performer as artist.
Diminutions, the art of extemporary embellishment or melodic variation, were an essential part of performance practice of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The basis of diminutions is the fragmentation of a long note or series of long notes into many shorter and faster ones that move around the original melody. In the 16th and early 17th centuries, a composition as written by the composer was often regarded as raw material and it was normal and even required of musicians to embellish the works performed. The number of treatises that were devoted to the teaching of this
subject is a clear indication of the importance of diminutions at that time. Most of these manuals included a collection of decorated melodies taken from renowned madrigals, motets and chansons by well-known composers of the time. These pieces give us clear examples of how music was performed during that time and what was considered the proper way to embellish a piece of music. Often technically demanding, these pieces gave scope for virtuoso display as they required great dexterity from the performer. In conclusion, diminutions were added to make a piece of music more 'beautiful'.
CRITCAL ACCLAIM
"... so much exquisite playing and rare and magical music" - MusicWeb International on CC72760, Altri Canti d'Amor
Tracklisting
Mattias Spee
Victor Garcia Garcia
Thomas Triesschijn; The Counterpoints
Severin von Eckardstein; Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra; Lukasz Borowicz
New European Ensemble
Musiciens de l'Orchestre de chambre de Paris
Kano Imada; La Sfera Armoniosa; Mike Fentross
Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra; Daniel Raiskin
Simone Pedroni, Maria Grazia Aschei, Fausto Ghiazza, Christiana Coppola, Luca Stocco, Marco Bronzi
Serenissma Ensemble
Milan Wind Quintet/Luigi Magistrelli/Gianni Biocotino/Silvano Scanziani/Paolo Biagini/Gioele Corrad
Marina Tarasova/Ivan Sokolov
L'Arte dell'Arco/Staatskapelle Dresden/Erik Bosgraaf/Collegium Pro Musica/Ensemble J.M. Anciuti/Con
Jangoo Chapkhana
Ensemble Giardino di Delizie/ Ewa Anna Augustynowicz/ Ensemble Arte Musica/ Francesco Cera
Anna Reichold/Tung-Han Hu
