Release Date: 01 May 2020
Label: New Arts International
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
The Eric Ineke JazzXpress Feat. Tineke Postma
Various Artists
Xose Miguelez
Teun Wisse & Teun Braken
Linos Piano Trio
Duke Ellington
Clemens Gottwald
Ben Markley Big Band & Ari Hoenig
Ensemble der Salzburg Wind Philharmonic
Teresa Wakim; Carlotta Colombo; James Reese; Aaron Sheehan; Jesse Blumberg; Mauro Borgioni; Boston
Minguet Quartett; Michael Korstick
Marie Luise Werneburg; Sebastian Knebel; Anne Freitag; Margret Baumgartl; Alma Stolte
Benno Rabinof; Toscha Seidel; Harry Kaufman; Sylvia Rabinof
I Solisti Ambrosiani
Gleb Pysniak; Rojas Zubovas
Giulia Taccagni; Giacomo Carnevali
