Lo Sposalizio - The Wedding of Venice to the Sea - Abeille Musique
Lo Sposalizio - The Wedding of Venice to the Sea - Abeille Musique
Lo Sposalizio - The Wedding of Venice to the Sea - Abeille Musique
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2 COMPACT DISCS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE dyad
F<br />
ROM THE ELEVENTH CENTURY, Venetian<br />
mariners ga<strong>the</strong>red <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r once each year <strong>to</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
prayers <strong>to</strong> San Nicolò, <strong>the</strong> patron saint <strong>of</strong> sailors,<br />
asking for his continued protection. Initially <strong>the</strong> service<br />
was a simple Benedictio in which, alongside prayers <strong>to</strong><br />
St Nicholas, <strong>the</strong> Adriatic <strong>Sea</strong> was blessed with holy water,<br />
but by <strong>the</strong> late sixteenth century <strong>the</strong> ceremony had<br />
evolved in<strong>to</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most lavish and important dates<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Venetian calendar. Ascension Day now launched a<br />
large spring festival which was headed by <strong>the</strong> symbolic<br />
wedding <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Adriatic—<strong>the</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong>. In a<br />
city where fertility rituals had always held great<br />
importance, this ceremonial marriage was accorded<br />
<strong>the</strong> greatest spectacle and pomp. <strong>The</strong> festival, which<br />
included public entertainments and a fifteen-day-long<br />
fair, also presented a potent metaphor for, and symbol<br />
<strong>of</strong>, Venetian dominion.<br />
Two major descriptions, one describing <strong>the</strong> six teenthcentury<br />
celebrations and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> cere monies <strong>of</strong> a<br />
hundred years later, give us a splendid overview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
day. <strong>The</strong> basic formula was that <strong>the</strong> dignitaries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Venetian establishment would follow <strong>the</strong> Doge, in a<br />
largely secular celebration, <strong>to</strong> a central position in <strong>the</strong><br />
lagoon, where traditional prayers for protection would<br />
be uttered and a gold ring symbolically cast in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea:<br />
<strong>the</strong> procession would <strong>the</strong>n move on <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> San<br />
Nicolò on <strong>the</strong> Lido for a large church service.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sixteenth-century <strong>Sposalizio</strong> ceremony began at<br />
dawn on Ascension Day with <strong>the</strong> Cavaliere del Doge (in<br />
charge <strong>of</strong> state ceremonies) checking whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> sea<br />
was calm enough for a procession <strong>of</strong> boats. If it was, <strong>the</strong><br />
Vera (a ceremonial gold ring) was issued by <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Rason Vecchie and <strong>the</strong> Cavaliere announced <strong>the</strong><br />
start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Festa della Sensa. After celebrating Mass at<br />
San Marco (with no contemporary descriptions <strong>of</strong> largescale<br />
music at this event, and plenty <strong>of</strong> music <strong>to</strong> come<br />
2<br />
later in <strong>the</strong> day, it is generally assumed that this was a<br />
relatively simple service) <strong>the</strong> Doge, accompanied by all<br />
<strong>Venice</strong>’s most important figures, including ambassadors<br />
and high magistrates, would board <strong>the</strong> Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro, <strong>the</strong><br />
republic’s wonderfully ornate ceremonial galley, and be<br />
rowed by four hundred oarsmen <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
lagoon. Whilst <strong>the</strong> party moved across <strong>the</strong> water, <strong>the</strong><br />
choir <strong>of</strong> San Marco would sing motets and church bells<br />
would ring. Thousands <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r boats, gondolas, hired<br />
barges, pilot boats and galleys, all decorated in <strong>the</strong> most<br />
ornate style, would join <strong>the</strong> procession. <strong>The</strong> Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro<br />
would s<strong>to</strong>p near <strong>the</strong> convent <strong>of</strong> Sant’ Elena, where it<br />
would meet <strong>the</strong> Patriarch <strong>of</strong> Castello on ano<strong>the</strong>r boat.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re, two canons would sing ‘Exaudi nos, Domine,<br />
cum propiciis’ (‘Hear us with favour, O <strong>Lo</strong>rd’), <strong>to</strong> which<br />
<strong>the</strong> Patriarch would reply ‘Ut hoc mare nobis et<br />
omnibus in eo navigantibus tranquillum et quietum<br />
concedere digneris te rogamus, audi nos’ (‘We pray that<br />
you deign <strong>to</strong> grant that this sea be tranquil and quiet for<br />
our men and for all o<strong>the</strong>rs who sail upon it, O hear us’).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Patriarch would bless <strong>the</strong> water, and <strong>the</strong> two canons<br />
sing an Oremus. <strong>The</strong> Patriarchal boat would approach<br />
<strong>the</strong> Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro, and <strong>the</strong> chief priest <strong>of</strong> San Marco, <strong>the</strong><br />
Primicerio, would in<strong>to</strong>ne and bless <strong>the</strong> Doge with holy<br />
water. At <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lagoon, <strong>the</strong> point where a<br />
natural break in <strong>the</strong> Lido opens <strong>the</strong> waters <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Adriatic, <strong>the</strong> actual marriage ceremony would take<br />
place, with <strong>the</strong> Doge dropping <strong>the</strong> gold ring overboard<br />
whilst saying ‘Desponsamus te Mare, in signum veri<br />
perpetuique dominii’ (‘We espouse <strong>the</strong>e, O sea, as a sign<br />
<strong>of</strong> true and perpetual dominion’). After <strong>the</strong> ceremony<br />
<strong>the</strong> Doge and his guests would s<strong>to</strong>p at San Nicolò al Lido<br />
for a grand service, followed by a banquet which would<br />
last until evening.<br />
By <strong>the</strong> seventeenth century, <strong>the</strong> early morning<br />
service at San Marco seems <strong>to</strong> have vanished, being
eplaced by a lavish Mass at <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> San Nicolò<br />
al Lido after <strong>the</strong> water ceremonies. <strong>The</strong> day started<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Doge’s palace, leading straight <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> secular<br />
processions and <strong>the</strong> blessing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> waters, and <strong>the</strong>nce<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> San Nicolò for a musically spectacular<br />
Mass. An Englishman on <strong>the</strong> ‘Grand Tour’, Richard<br />
Lassels, attended one such celebration and described it<br />
in fine detail in his Voyage <strong>of</strong> Italy: ‘I happened <strong>to</strong> be in<br />
<strong>Venice</strong> thrice, at <strong>the</strong> great <strong>Sea</strong> Triumph, or feast <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Ascension, which was performed thus. About eight in<br />
<strong>the</strong> morneing, <strong>the</strong> Sena<strong>to</strong>rs in <strong>the</strong>ir scarlat robes, meet<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Doges Pallace, and <strong>the</strong>re taking him up, <strong>the</strong>y walk<br />
with him processionaly un<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> shoare, w[h]ere <strong>the</strong><br />
Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro lyes waiting <strong>the</strong>m; <strong>the</strong> Pope’s Nuncio being<br />
upon his right hand, and <strong>the</strong> Patriarch <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong>, on his<br />
left hand. <strong>The</strong>n ascending in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro, by a<br />
hansome bridge throwne out <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> shoare, <strong>the</strong> Doge<br />
takes his place, and <strong>the</strong> Sena<strong>to</strong>rs sit round <strong>the</strong> Gallie as<br />
<strong>the</strong>y can, <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> two, or three hundred. <strong>The</strong><br />
Senate being placed, <strong>the</strong> anchor is weighed, and <strong>the</strong><br />
slaves being warned by <strong>the</strong> Capitains whistle and <strong>the</strong><br />
sound <strong>of</strong> trumpets, begin <strong>to</strong> strike all at once with <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
oares, and <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro march as gravely<br />
upon <strong>the</strong> water, as if she also went upon cioppini. Thus<br />
<strong>the</strong>y steere for two miles upon <strong>the</strong> Laguna, while <strong>the</strong><br />
musick plays, and sings Epithalamiums all <strong>the</strong> way<br />
long, and makes Neptune jealous <strong>to</strong> heare Hymen called<br />
upon in his dominions. Round about <strong>the</strong> Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro<br />
flock a world <strong>of</strong> Piottas and Gondolas, richly covered<br />
overhead with somptuous Canopies <strong>of</strong> silks and rich<br />
stuffs, and rowed by watermen in rich liveryes, as well<br />
as <strong>the</strong> Trumpeters. Thus forrain Embassadors, divers<br />
noblemen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country and strangers <strong>of</strong> condition<br />
wait upon <strong>the</strong> Doge’s gallie all <strong>the</strong> way long, both<br />
comeing and going. At last <strong>the</strong> Doge being arrived at <strong>the</strong><br />
appointed place, throws a Ring in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sea</strong>, without any<br />
3<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r ceremony, than by saying ‘Desponsamus te Mare,<br />
in signum veri perpetui dominij: we espouse <strong>the</strong>e, ò<br />
sea, in testimony <strong>of</strong> our perpetual dominion over<br />
<strong>the</strong>e:’ and so returnes <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> S. Nicolas in Lio<br />
(an Iland hard by) where he assists at high Masse with<br />
<strong>the</strong> Senate. This done, he returns home againe in <strong>the</strong><br />
same state; and invites those that accompanyed him in<br />
his Gally, <strong>to</strong> dinner in his pallace.’<br />
<strong>The</strong> musical forces available for <strong>Lo</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>re are few cities in<strong>to</strong> whose music so much research<br />
has been made, yet <strong>the</strong> known detail <strong>of</strong> exactly what was<br />
performed on major feast days in <strong>Venice</strong>, even during its<br />
heyday, is surprisingly slight. <strong>The</strong> full complement <strong>of</strong><br />
singers available at St Mark’s at this time was around<br />
thirty, most <strong>of</strong> whom we can assume would have taken<br />
part on this, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most important occasions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
year. <strong>The</strong>re was a similar number <strong>of</strong> instrumentalists,<br />
<strong>to</strong> which would be added <strong>the</strong> ‘outdoor’ musicians—<br />
drummers and <strong>the</strong> Doge’s famous six silver trumpets<br />
(<strong>the</strong> Piffari, <strong>the</strong> leader <strong>of</strong> whom, traditionally, did not<br />
play). From this large pool <strong>of</strong> musicians can be seen <strong>the</strong><br />
possibilities for fanfares and traditional drumming,<br />
large-scale music intended for public consumption, and<br />
more intimate pieces which (in line with <strong>the</strong> traditions<br />
followed at services within St Mark’s) were intended<br />
only for <strong>the</strong> ears <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Doge and <strong>the</strong> immediate<br />
dignitaries.<br />
<strong>The</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> San Nicolò<br />
To a twentieth-century visi<strong>to</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> San Nicolò<br />
al Lido appears a relatively unspectacular building in<br />
comparison with <strong>the</strong> many more ornate churches that<br />
<strong>the</strong> city possesses. Of <strong>the</strong> hundreds <strong>of</strong> saints whom <strong>the</strong><br />
Venetians venerated (many <strong>of</strong> whom were local in<br />
origin, o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>of</strong> whom had seen reposi<strong>to</strong>ries found for
<strong>the</strong>ir relics during <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crusades, <strong>of</strong>ten having<br />
been s<strong>to</strong>len from <strong>the</strong> East), four <strong>to</strong>ok pride <strong>of</strong> place in<br />
Venetian hagiology: Marco (<strong>to</strong> whom <strong>the</strong> famous basilica<br />
was dedicated), Teodoro (who had been <strong>the</strong> patron saint<br />
in <strong>Venice</strong> before <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> Marco), Giorgio (<strong>the</strong> same<br />
George whose dragon-slaying exploits led <strong>to</strong> his adoption<br />
as patron saint <strong>of</strong> England) and Nicolò, <strong>the</strong> patron saint<br />
<strong>of</strong> sailors. Nicolò’s cult in <strong>Venice</strong> had started at least as<br />
early as <strong>the</strong> eleventh century, and <strong>the</strong> Venetians had<br />
built a monastery on <strong>the</strong> Lido in his honour in 1053.<br />
<strong>The</strong> site <strong>of</strong> this monastery, at <strong>the</strong> gateway <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Adriatic<br />
<strong>Sea</strong>, gave Nicolò added importance <strong>to</strong> this predomin -<br />
antly maritime population. <strong>The</strong> ritual homage paid by<br />
<strong>the</strong> Doge and Patriarch <strong>to</strong> Nicolò suggests that <strong>the</strong> saint<br />
himself may have <strong>of</strong>ficiated at early celebrations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Sposalizio</strong>: until 1172 <strong>the</strong> monastery was <strong>the</strong> site where<br />
<strong>the</strong> citizens assembled <strong>to</strong> acclaim new Doges, and<br />
through out <strong>the</strong> Renaissance was used as a banqueting<br />
hall for departing captains general. Only during <strong>the</strong><br />
succeeding centuries, as mainland <strong>Venice</strong> expanded,<br />
was <strong>the</strong> monastery eclipsed as a centre <strong>of</strong> great religious<br />
and political significance by <strong>the</strong> newly built Doge’s<br />
Palace and Basilica <strong>of</strong> San Marco. But by his continued<br />
protection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Venetians at sea, and by his patronage<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Doge and captain general, San Nicolò maintained<br />
a balance with Marco, complementing his spiritual<br />
functions and maintaining links with <strong>the</strong> general popu -<br />
lation by having an urban location for his major shrine.<br />
COMPACT DISC ONE<br />
<strong>The</strong> processions and journey across <strong>the</strong> lagoon<br />
Ascension Day begins in St Mark’s Square, with <strong>the</strong> bell<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> basilica (track 1). From outside <strong>the</strong> square<br />
emerges a procession <strong>of</strong> drums 2, which announces<br />
<strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Doge and his guests; this procession is<br />
joined, as described by Lassels, by <strong>the</strong> silver trumpets,<br />
4<br />
playing <strong>the</strong> ‘Rotta’ fanfare 3 written down by Fantini in<br />
his method for trumpet playing. Fantini’s fanfares are<br />
heard at several junctures during this recording, and are<br />
representative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more ‘modern’ type <strong>of</strong> fanfare that<br />
was coming in<strong>to</strong> vogue at <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seventeenth<br />
century, replacing <strong>the</strong> old-fashioned works previously<br />
transcribed by Bendinelli. Once <strong>the</strong> Doge is in place, <strong>the</strong><br />
grand madrigal Vieni, vieni Himeneo 4 is performed,<br />
set for two choirs <strong>of</strong> voices and instruments; it solemnly<br />
welcomes <strong>the</strong> assembled company and makes, as<br />
Lassels described, ‘Neptune jealous <strong>to</strong> heare Hymen<br />
called upon in his dominions’. Published posthumously<br />
in 1590, its style is representative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> later works <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> much respected Andrea Gabrieli.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first instrumental canzona is by ano<strong>the</strong>r former<br />
organist <strong>of</strong> San Marco, Gioseffo Guami, described by a<br />
contemporary as being an ‘extraordinary’ string player.<br />
His noble eight-part canzona 5 is a fine work, incor -<br />
porating harmony <strong>of</strong> an unusual sweetness and varying<br />
textures with great skill, whilst encouraging <strong>the</strong> cantus<br />
players <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two opposite choirs <strong>to</strong> indulge in orna -<br />
ments that match those already written out.<br />
Whilst <strong>the</strong> musicians move for <strong>the</strong>ir next piece,<br />
on <strong>the</strong> Doge’s boat three chitarrone players perform a<br />
short piece 6 by <strong>the</strong> Venetian-born lutenist Giovanni<br />
Kapsberger, typical <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new style <strong>of</strong> plucked string<br />
writing. Andrea Gabrieli’s splendid twelve-part madrigal<br />
Cantiam di Dio 7 is a large-scale work <strong>of</strong> considerable<br />
grandeur, predominantly homophonic in texture<br />
through out its two sections, and containing luxurious<br />
tuttis with all twelve voices and instruments; it praises<br />
God for creating heaven, earth and, <strong>of</strong> course, <strong>the</strong><br />
sea. <strong>The</strong> drums provide a brief interlude 8, leading <strong>to</strong><br />
a more warlike work, Andrea Gabrieli’s canzona La<br />
Battaglia 9, which he specifies should be played on<br />
eight wind instruments. <strong>The</strong> tradition <strong>of</strong> writing battle
music was a popular one in <strong>the</strong> sixteenth century:<br />
Gabrieli’s writing looks back <strong>to</strong> pieces such as Jane -<br />
quin’s chanson La bataille de Marignan and Hermann<br />
Werrecore’s Bataglia taliana, written <strong>to</strong> celebrate <strong>the</strong><br />
defeat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French at <strong>the</strong> Battle <strong>of</strong> Pavia. Between <strong>the</strong><br />
expected trumpet calls and battle fanfares Gabrieli<br />
includes writing <strong>of</strong> exquisite subtlety.<br />
Andrea’s nephew Giovanni provides a sublime<br />
musical contrast with his delicious eight-part madrigal<br />
Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo bl, set in this recording for two<br />
falsettists and a rich string accompaniment. First pub -<br />
lished in 1587, <strong>the</strong> madrigal proved <strong>to</strong> be especially<br />
popular, being arranged both as a lute duet and also by<br />
Gabrieli’s pupil Schütz as part <strong>of</strong> his Psalmen Davids<br />
(1619). In <strong>the</strong> midst <strong>of</strong> a traditionally damp Venetian<br />
spring its mildly erotic, lovesick <strong>to</strong>ne must have brought<br />
on longings for <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> good wea<strong>the</strong>r. La Folia bm,<br />
here improvised on three plucked-string instruments<br />
after <strong>the</strong> style <strong>of</strong> Alessandro Piccinini, was newly arrived<br />
in Italy from Spain, and enjoying great popularity.<br />
La Leona bn, <strong>the</strong> title <strong>of</strong> Cesario Gussago’s Canzona<br />
XIX, refers <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Venetian lion. Predominantly chordal<br />
in style, Gussago’s writing is highly attractive in its inter -<br />
play between <strong>the</strong> two opposing choirs <strong>of</strong> instruments.<br />
<strong>The</strong> title may have been his idea—or that <strong>of</strong> his pub -<br />
lisher, trying <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> work more saleable <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Venetian public!<br />
Like La Folia, <strong>the</strong> Ciaccona was entering Italian<br />
music at <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seventeenth century: its<br />
popularity proved <strong>to</strong> be such that almost every<br />
composer incorporated this new form in<strong>to</strong> a multitude<br />
<strong>of</strong> works. Here, <strong>the</strong> players improvise on one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
shortest examples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bass line bo.<br />
Giovanni Gabrieli’s massive, double-choir, sixteenpart<br />
madrigal Udite, chiari e generosi figli bp is <strong>the</strong><br />
vocal pièce de résistance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> secular celebrations,<br />
5<br />
with a text full <strong>of</strong> references <strong>to</strong> nautical mythological<br />
figures; this mythology would have been readily com -<br />
prehensible <strong>to</strong> any educated Venetian. Gabrieli sets <strong>the</strong><br />
work for fourteen voices, supporting <strong>the</strong>m below with<br />
basso continuo and above with a lone ‘cornet<strong>to</strong> mu<strong>to</strong>’.<br />
<strong>The</strong> eight singers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first choir take <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong><br />
Tri<strong>to</strong>ns, calling on <strong>the</strong> citizens <strong>of</strong> Adria <strong>to</strong> listen <strong>to</strong><br />
Poseidon, King <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Oceans (here Adria is an allusion<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>Venice</strong>, ra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn which sat between <strong>the</strong><br />
mouths <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rivers Po and Adige). Tri<strong>to</strong>n himself was<br />
<strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Poseidon, and dwelt in a golden palace at <strong>the</strong><br />
bot<strong>to</strong>m <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea. ‘Gradita’ (literally ‘chargers’, or white<br />
horses) refers <strong>to</strong> Tri<strong>to</strong>n’s practice <strong>of</strong> riding sea horses or<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r monsters. <strong>The</strong> Tri<strong>to</strong>ns (part human, part fish)<br />
would, at <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> Poseidon, blow on a trumpet<br />
made out <strong>of</strong> a shell and soo<strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong> waves. <strong>The</strong> second<br />
choir takes <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> Sirens. In mythology, <strong>the</strong>se were<br />
sea nymphs who had <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> charming all who<br />
heard <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong>ir singing. Ulysses avoided <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
wiles by tying himself <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> mast <strong>of</strong> his ship and by<br />
filling <strong>the</strong> ears <strong>of</strong> his companions with wax. When Jason<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Argonauts sailed by, <strong>the</strong> Sirens sang in vain,<br />
surpassed by Orpheus and his lyre; finding someone<br />
who was unmoved by <strong>the</strong>ir songs, <strong>the</strong>y threw <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea, and were metamorphosed in<strong>to</strong> rocks.<br />
Amphi trite was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifty Nereids (ano<strong>the</strong>r was<br />
<strong>The</strong>tis, mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Achilles) and was <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Tri<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
Gabrieli’s madrigal is a magnificent, large-scale com -<br />
position, full <strong>of</strong> word-painting and dramatic contrasts,<br />
climaxing in a remarkable sixteen-part final chorus<br />
which urges <strong>the</strong> Venetians <strong>to</strong> be bold and proud.<br />
Before <strong>the</strong> Doge reaches <strong>the</strong> position in <strong>the</strong> lagoon<br />
from where he casts his ring in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> waters, <strong>the</strong> instru -<br />
mentalists play <strong>Lo</strong>dovico Viadana’s excellent canzona La<br />
Veneziana bq. Part <strong>of</strong> a collection which names each<br />
canzona after an Italian city, this work splendidly
manages <strong>to</strong> combine a lively and fresh opening with<br />
music <strong>of</strong> solemnity, admirably summing up two con -<br />
trast ing aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong>. As <strong>the</strong> secular part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Sposalizio</strong> closes, <strong>the</strong> trumpeters sound <strong>the</strong> fanfare<br />
Imperiale prima br, joined by <strong>the</strong> drummers who lead<br />
<strong>the</strong> procession across <strong>the</strong> lagoon <strong>to</strong>wards <strong>the</strong> Lido.<br />
COMPACT DISC TWO<br />
<strong>The</strong> solemn Mass held in San Nicolò<br />
‘… And so [<strong>the</strong> Doge] returnes <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> S.<br />
Nicolas in Lio … where he assists at high Masse with <strong>the</strong><br />
Senate’ … Whereas <strong>the</strong> sequence <strong>of</strong> music for <strong>the</strong><br />
secular ceremonies <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lo</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong> has <strong>to</strong> be largely<br />
putative, <strong>the</strong> form for <strong>the</strong> music used during <strong>the</strong><br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> High Mass is more clearly documented.<br />
<strong>The</strong> major musical highlights are presented here (<strong>the</strong><br />
full service would have filled two compact discs on its<br />
own). <strong>The</strong> proceedings are announced by <strong>the</strong> bell <strong>of</strong> San<br />
Nicolò 1, <strong>to</strong>lling <strong>to</strong> announce <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mass.<br />
Outside <strong>the</strong> church, <strong>the</strong> trumpeters sound a fanfare 2<br />
<strong>to</strong> herald <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Doge.<br />
Moving inside <strong>the</strong> church, <strong>the</strong> first musical element<br />
in <strong>the</strong> service is Giovanni Gabrieli’s magnificent twelvepart<br />
Kyrie 3. <strong>The</strong> opening section places a lone solo<br />
tenor over four sackbuts in magnificently poised music<br />
<strong>of</strong> great solemnity. In <strong>the</strong> ‘Christe’ <strong>the</strong>y are joined by a<br />
higher choir <strong>of</strong> instruments in writing that is more per -<br />
sonal and penitential. <strong>The</strong> third part adds <strong>the</strong> ‘Capella’<br />
(tutti choir) <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> existing two choirs <strong>of</strong> soloists and<br />
instruments, creating sumptuous twelve-part textures.<br />
Andrea Gabrieli’s remarkable sixteen-part setting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Gloria 4, written for four choirs, is an equally striking<br />
piece. Three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> choirs are <strong>of</strong> solo singers and instru -<br />
ments: <strong>the</strong> fourth is <strong>the</strong> tutti ‘Capella’. With a long text<br />
<strong>to</strong> set, Gabrieli’s largely syllabic setting functions very<br />
effectively, with writing for <strong>the</strong> alternating choirs con -<br />
6<br />
trasting with mighty pillars <strong>of</strong> sound when all four sound<br />
<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r. <strong>The</strong> final ‘Cum Sanc<strong>to</strong> Spiritu’ dances in its<br />
new-found triple metre.<br />
A short organ In<strong>to</strong>natione 5 introduces Tiburtio<br />
Massaino’s brooding Canzon per ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni 6:<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r remarkable work, it presents <strong>the</strong> noble sound<br />
<strong>of</strong> eight sackbuts. <strong>The</strong> resultant sonorities are striking,<br />
showing not only <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> such an ensemble when<br />
playing loudly, but demonstrating <strong>the</strong> surprisingly<br />
intimate sound <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> instruments when <strong>the</strong>y are played<br />
s<strong>of</strong>tly. Plainsong chant would have played a large part in<br />
<strong>the</strong> service; here we have <strong>the</strong> Sursum corda with its<br />
special Preface for Ascension Day 7. It leads directly<br />
in<strong>to</strong> Giovanni Gabrieli’s extraordinary twelve-part setting<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sanctus 8, with a scoring which parallels that <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Kyrie. Once again, sonority and timbre are used <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> full, <strong>the</strong> e<strong>the</strong>real heavens contrasted with <strong>the</strong> lowly<br />
earth, and <strong>the</strong> ‘Hosannas’ dancing joyously.<br />
Before <strong>the</strong> Communion motet ano<strong>the</strong>r In<strong>to</strong>natione<br />
by Andrea Gabrieli is sounded on <strong>the</strong> organ 9, leading<br />
in<strong>to</strong> Claudio Monteverdi’s ravishing Christe, adoramus<br />
te bl, subtitled ‘Nella Elevatione di N. Signore’. Here is<br />
<strong>the</strong> master at work, creating a miniature masterpiece:<br />
<strong>the</strong> opening writing is largely in homophonic style,<br />
contrasting with <strong>the</strong> rising chromaticism <strong>of</strong> ‘quia per<br />
Sanctam Crucem tuam’ and <strong>the</strong> plaintive, supplica<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
phrasing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> solo-voiced ‘redemisti mundum’.<br />
Closing <strong>the</strong> service is Giovanni Gabrieli’s sublime<br />
Sonata XX bm. Written for twenty-two instruments and<br />
basso continuo, playing in five separate choirs, this<br />
is <strong>the</strong> composer’s largest-scale instrumental work.<br />
Gabrieli’s handling <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large ensemble shows his<br />
complete mastery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> form. Each choir is introduced<br />
separately and has its own character: <strong>the</strong> opening sixpart<br />
choir presents calm solemnity with a gently dotted,<br />
rising melody and a contrasting falling motif comprising
adjacent pairs <strong>of</strong> notes. <strong>The</strong> second choir enters with <strong>the</strong><br />
traditional dactylic canzona rhythm (long, short, short).<br />
<strong>The</strong> third choir is <strong>of</strong> lower-pitched instruments, given<br />
here <strong>to</strong> four sackbuts (Gabrieli specifies instrument -<br />
ation for only three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> twenty-two instrumental<br />
lines), and is followed by a more lightly scored fourth<br />
choir, echoing <strong>the</strong> second choir in style and tessitura.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fifth choir is treated quite differently, with writing<br />
that is busier and more active—well suited <strong>to</strong> string<br />
instruments. Only after some minutes do we hear <strong>the</strong><br />
first, sumptuous tutti, first s<strong>of</strong>tly, as if ‘testing <strong>the</strong><br />
waters’, and <strong>the</strong>n a few bars later with more emphasis.<br />
Gabrieli moves <strong>to</strong> a less formal section, featuring a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> combinations <strong>of</strong> choirs and occasionally com -<br />
bining all five. <strong>The</strong> duration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se dialogues becomes<br />
shorter and suddenly, as if unable <strong>to</strong> wait any longer, a<br />
high sackbut breaks loose in a wildly exultant, jazzy<br />
rhythm. Here is <strong>the</strong> excuse for which <strong>the</strong> whole<br />
ensemble has apparently been waiting: <strong>the</strong> combined<br />
forces let loose a mighty sonic block. But Gabrieli does<br />
not loose all his cannon; returning <strong>to</strong> a brief section <strong>of</strong><br />
inter-choral dialogue, <strong>the</strong> string choir <strong>the</strong>n branches <strong>of</strong>f<br />
with a wonderfully explora<strong>to</strong>ry, darkly coloured section<br />
in a newly discovered triple metre. Eventually all is<br />
brought back <strong>to</strong> book and returns <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> earlier,<br />
conventional duple metre, but <strong>the</strong> seeds have been<br />
sown, and each choir takes up <strong>the</strong> new, elegantly poised<br />
<strong>The</strong> Hyperion catalogue can also be accessed on <strong>the</strong> Internet at www.hyperion-records.co.uk<br />
7<br />
triple metre, building <strong>to</strong> an inescapable climax. A rest for<br />
all instruments serves only <strong>to</strong> emphasize <strong>the</strong> extra -<br />
ordinary power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> combined forces in ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
monu mental pillar <strong>of</strong> sound and, as <strong>the</strong> Sonata moves<br />
<strong>to</strong>wards its end, each instrument in turn celebrates with<br />
its own fanfare, closing one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most remarkable<br />
instrumental pieces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> age.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> Doge leaves <strong>the</strong> church, <strong>the</strong> footmen throw<br />
open <strong>the</strong> large west doors. As he steps outside <strong>the</strong> Doge<br />
is greeted by <strong>the</strong> extraordinary sound <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> combined<br />
church bells <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong> bn pealing in <strong>the</strong>ir celebration <strong>of</strong><br />
this most glorious <strong>of</strong> marriages.<br />
Acknowledgement<br />
<strong>The</strong> idea <strong>to</strong> reconstruct <strong>the</strong> celebrations <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lo</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong><br />
came nearly ten years ago, planned as a lavish television<br />
production: <strong>the</strong> Venetian knowledge <strong>of</strong> John Michael<br />
Phillips is gratefully acknowledged. That mighty project<br />
is still <strong>to</strong> be realized, but out <strong>of</strong> it grew a concert project,<br />
developed in association with Vienna’s Resonanzen<br />
festival, <strong>the</strong> festival Cathédrales en Picardie and <strong>the</strong><br />
Festival d’Ambronay. In researching <strong>the</strong> music and<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry I have been helped in particular by Clifford<br />
Bartlett, David Bryant, Patricia Liani, Stephen King,<br />
many <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> King’s Consort’s own players and singers,<br />
and by <strong>the</strong> writings, amongst that <strong>of</strong> many distinguished<br />
scholars, <strong>of</strong> Edward Muir and Denis Arnold.<br />
ROBERT KING © 1998<br />
If you have enjoyed this recording perhaps you would like a catalogue listing <strong>the</strong> many o<strong>the</strong>rs available on <strong>the</strong> Hyperion and Helios labels. If so,<br />
please write <strong>to</strong> Hyperion Records Ltd, PO Box 25, <strong>Lo</strong>ndon SE9 1AX, England, or email us at info@hyperion-records.co.uk, and we will be<br />
pleased <strong>to</strong> send you one free <strong>of</strong> charge.
COMPACT DISC 1<br />
4 ANDREA GABRIELI Vieni, vieni Himeneo<br />
Vieni, vieni Himeneo, Come, come Hymen,<br />
O felice Himeneo, ov’ hor t’invita happy Hymen, <strong>to</strong> where you are invited<br />
Questa cara e gradita Schiera de’ novi amanti by this dear and welcoming group <strong>of</strong> new lovers<br />
Con prieghi humili, e con sì dolci canti. with humble prayers, and with such sweet songs.<br />
7 ANDREA GABRIELI Cantiam di Dio<br />
Part One Cantiam di Dio, cantiamo, Let us sing <strong>of</strong> God, let us sing,<br />
Dolci amici diletti, sweet beloved friends,<br />
Se pur cantar bramiamo. if we want <strong>to</strong> sing.<br />
Tutti i nostri concetti Let us all devote<br />
Et la voce e l’ingegno our thoughts, voice and talent<br />
A Dio tutti sacriamo. <strong>to</strong> God.<br />
Egli è ben giust’e degno He is just and worthy<br />
Che noi tal cant’usiamo, <strong>of</strong> our singing such a song,<br />
Ch’ogn’altro cant’è indegno. for any o<strong>the</strong>r is unfit.<br />
Ma tutti ad un cantiamo: Let us all sing <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r:<br />
Quel Dio tutti cantiam ch’etern’e solo let us all praise <strong>the</strong> God that forever and alone<br />
Di nulla il ciel creò la terr’e ’l mare; from nothing created heaven, earth and sea;<br />
Et quant’a noi tra l’uno e l’altro polo from one pole <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
Di vago e bel con meraviglia appare. how marvellous and beautiful it appears.<br />
Poi, liberal del suo proprio figliolo, Moreover, generous with his own son,<br />
Qua giù l’<strong>of</strong>ferse a patir pene amare, he <strong>of</strong>fered him here on earth <strong>to</strong> suffer bitter pain,<br />
Facendo a noi de le sue membra scudo making for us a shield from his limbs<br />
Sul duro legno della Croce ignudo. on <strong>the</strong> hard, bare wood <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cross.<br />
Part Two In Dio qualunqu’ha viva e ferma fede Whoever has a living and firm faith in God<br />
Di più servirlo ogn’hor dilet<strong>to</strong> prova always proves his delight by serving him<br />
Nè gratia indarno mai da lui richiede. and never asks in vain for grace.<br />
In Dio sol vera pace il mondo prova, In God alone <strong>the</strong> world knows true peace,<br />
Et s’huom de l’amor suo qua giù s’accende and if man is kindled with his love<br />
Nulla cosa mortal li piace o giova. no mortal thing pleases or serves him.<br />
In Dio chi ben oprando il tempo spende Anyone who does good deeds in God’s name<br />
Quasi angelica vita in terra mena, lives as an angel on earth<br />
Et com’un chiaro sol tra gl’altri splende. and shines like a bright sun among o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Con l’alma dunqu’ogn’un devota e piena With a soul devoted and full<br />
D’ardent’affet<strong>to</strong> e ’n Dio solo godiamo <strong>of</strong> ardent affection, let us rejoice in God alone,<br />
Lieti e contenti, e tutti ad un cantiamo. happy and contented, let us all sing as one.<br />
Signor, che l’huom con sì mirabil cura <strong>Lo</strong>rd, you who with such marvellous care formed man<br />
Simile a te con le tue man formasti, in your own image with your own hands,<br />
Poi prendendo per lui mortal figura <strong>the</strong>n, taking mortal form for his sake,<br />
L’altezza tua qua giù tant’abbassasti— humbled your greatness here below:<br />
Deh, fa’ ch’ogn’un di noi con mente pura ah! make each one <strong>of</strong> us with pure mind<br />
8
Volt’ogn’hor per la via ch’a noi mostrasti; turn always <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> way you showed us;<br />
Teco al fin goda in ciel tra i chori santi at last in heaven among <strong>the</strong> holy choirs<br />
Più felice harmonia, più dolci canti. let us enjoy happier harmonies and sweeter songs.<br />
bl GIOVANNI GABRIELI Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo<br />
Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo I sat happily enjoying<br />
L’aura che tremolando dolce spira l’aprile; <strong>the</strong> breeze that sweetly trembling April brea<strong>the</strong>s;<br />
Ogn’ hor sospira d’Amor ogn’ animale. every hour every animal sighs with love.<br />
Con mortal dardo With his mortal dart<br />
Amor volando venn’ e’l cor mi punse; <strong>Lo</strong>ve came flying and pierced my heart;<br />
E lass’ oimè, fugge meschino me: and, alas, he escapes <strong>to</strong> my sorrow:<br />
Onde n’havrò la morte and I shall die <strong>of</strong> it<br />
S’in lieta non si cangia la mia sorte. unless fate grants my happiness.<br />
bp GIOVANNI GABRIELI Udite, chiari e generosi figli<br />
First choir TRITONS Udite, chiari e generosi figli Listen, fair and noble sons<br />
D’Adria felice, il re del salso regno, <strong>of</strong> happy Hadria, <strong>the</strong> king <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> briny kingdom<br />
Ch’ama ’l vostro valor, no<strong>to</strong> ne l’onde who loves your valour, which is known over <strong>the</strong> waves,<br />
Doppio ne brama et honora<strong>to</strong> segno longs for it <strong>to</strong> be repeated, and awaits an honoured<br />
Fra guerrieri perigli sign amid <strong>the</strong> perils <strong>of</strong> war<br />
Ch’in terra ancor desio di gloria asconde. that on earth desire for glory still hides.<br />
Quinc’il destrier, fattura sua gradita, He invites you <strong>to</strong> take your chargers<br />
Ad adoprare, a maneggiar v’invita. Which he created that you hold dear, and ride hence.<br />
Second choir SIRENS E la bella Anfitrite And <strong>the</strong> fair Amphitrite<br />
De le Ninfe leggiadre promises <strong>to</strong> you <strong>the</strong> love and <strong>the</strong> favour<br />
Di ques<strong>to</strong> mar, che le Sirene unite <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fair Nymphs<br />
A le Nerei di squadre <strong>of</strong> this sea whose rare graces and sweetness exceed<br />
Vincon di gratie e di dolcezze elette, by far those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sirens<br />
A voi l’amor et il favor promette. and <strong>the</strong> Nereids marshalled <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
First and second choirs Sù dunque, ardita, altera, Onwards, <strong>the</strong>n, bold, proud,<br />
Nobilissima schiera, most noble crowd,<br />
Faccia vostra virtute al mondo fede confront your virtues and show <strong>the</strong> world<br />
Ch’il secol prisco a ques<strong>to</strong> secol cede. that ancient times give way <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> present.<br />
COMPACT DISC 2<br />
3 GIOVANNI GABRIELI Kyrie<br />
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. <strong>Lo</strong>rd, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. <strong>Lo</strong>rd, have mercy.<br />
4 ANDREA GABRIELI Gloria<br />
Gloria in excelsis Deo Glory <strong>to</strong> God in <strong>the</strong> highest<br />
et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. and on earth peace <strong>to</strong> men <strong>of</strong> good will.<br />
Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. We praise you. We bless you.<br />
Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. We adore you. We glorify you.<br />
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. We give you thanks for your great glory.<br />
9
Domine Deus, rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens, <strong>Lo</strong>rd God, king <strong>of</strong> heaven, God <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r almighty,<br />
Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, <strong>Lo</strong>rd, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ,<br />
Domine Deus, agnus Dei, Filius Patris, <strong>Lo</strong>rd God, lamb <strong>of</strong> God, Son <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
qui <strong>to</strong>llis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; you who take away <strong>the</strong> sins <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world, have mercy on us;<br />
qui <strong>to</strong>llis peccata mundi, you who take away <strong>the</strong> sins <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world,<br />
suscipe deprecationem nostram; receive our prayer;<br />
qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, you who sit at <strong>the</strong> right hand <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
miserere nobis. have mercy on us.<br />
Quoniam tu solus sanctus. Tu solus Dominus. For you only are holy. You only are <strong>Lo</strong>rd.<br />
Tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. You only are most high, Jesus Christ.<br />
Cum Sanc<strong>to</strong> Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. With <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit, in <strong>the</strong> glory <strong>of</strong> God <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r. Amen.<br />
7 Sursum corda<br />
Dominus vobiscum. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Lo</strong>rd be with you.<br />
Et cum spiritu tuo. And with your spirit.<br />
Sursum corda. Lift up your hearts.<br />
Habemus ad Dominum. We lift <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lo</strong>rd.<br />
Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. Let us give thanks <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lo</strong>rd our God.<br />
Dignum et iustum est. It is right and proper so <strong>to</strong> do.<br />
Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, It is right and proper, our duty and our salvation,<br />
nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: always and everywhere <strong>to</strong> give you thanks:<br />
Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: holy <strong>Lo</strong>rd, all-powerful Fa<strong>the</strong>r, and ever-living God:<br />
Per Christum Dominum nostrum, through Jesus Christ our <strong>Lo</strong>rd,<br />
qui post resurrectionem suam who, after his resurrection<br />
omnibus discipulis suis manifestus apparuit, appeared plainly <strong>to</strong> all his disciples,<br />
et ipsis cernentibus est elevatus in caelum, and in <strong>the</strong>ir sight was raised up <strong>to</strong> heaven<br />
ut nos divinitatis suae tribueret esse participes. <strong>to</strong> claim for us a share in his divine life.<br />
Et ideo cum angelis et archangelis, And <strong>the</strong>refore with angels and archangels,<br />
cum thronis et dominationibus, with thrones and dominions,<br />
cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus, and with all <strong>the</strong> company <strong>of</strong> heaven,<br />
hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes: we sing a hymn <strong>of</strong> your glory, evermore saying:<br />
8 GIOVANNI GABRIELI Sanctus<br />
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Holy, holy, holy <strong>Lo</strong>rd God <strong>of</strong> Hosts.<br />
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Heaven and earth are full <strong>of</strong> your glory.<br />
Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in <strong>the</strong> highest.<br />
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Blessed is he who comes in <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lo</strong>rd.<br />
Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in <strong>the</strong> highest.<br />
bl CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI Christe, adoramus te<br />
Christe, adoramus te et benedicimus tibi, Christ, we adore you and worship you,<br />
quia per Sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum. for by your Holy Cross you have redeemed <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Domine, miserere nobis. <strong>Lo</strong>rd, have mercy on us.<br />
10
<strong>The</strong> King’s Consort<br />
<strong>The</strong> King’s Consort has made more than ninety records<br />
for Hyperion—vocal, instrumental, orchestral and<br />
choral—including music by Handel, Bach, Boccherini,<br />
Kuhnau, As<strong>to</strong>rga, Telemann, Vivaldi, Schütz, Gabrieli,<br />
ROBERT KING © Jim Four<br />
11<br />
Pergolesi, Mozart and Albinoni. It is especially renowned<br />
for performances <strong>of</strong> Handel’s large-scale works<br />
(including Joshua, Deborah, <strong>The</strong> Occasional Ora<strong>to</strong>rio,<br />
Judas Maccabaeus, Alexander Balus, Joseph and his<br />
Brethren, Acis and Galatea, Ot<strong>to</strong>ne, L’Allegro, il<br />
Penseroso ed il Modera<strong>to</strong>, <strong>The</strong> Choice <strong>of</strong> Hercules,<br />
An Ode for St Cecilia’s Day, ‘Music for Ceremonial<br />
Occasions’, <strong>the</strong> four coronation an<strong>the</strong>ms, <strong>the</strong> Water<br />
Music and <strong>the</strong> Music for <strong>the</strong> Royal Fireworks) and <strong>the</strong><br />
music <strong>of</strong> Henry Purcell. <strong>The</strong> orchestra has recorded<br />
three highly acclaimed series <strong>of</strong> Purcell’s music: <strong>the</strong><br />
complete an<strong>the</strong>ms and services, <strong>the</strong> complete odes and<br />
welcome songs and <strong>the</strong> complete secular solo songs.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r recording projects include a series <strong>of</strong> sacred<br />
music by Bach’s contemporaries, including works by<br />
Kuhnau, Schelle, Knüpfer and Zelenka, Vivaldi’s<br />
complete sacred music and an acclaimed series <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
sacred music <strong>of</strong> Claudio Monteverdi. Among <strong>the</strong><br />
orchestra’s greatest successes on compact disc and in<br />
<strong>the</strong> concert hall have been Boccherini’s 1800 setting <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Stabat mater and <strong>the</strong> best-selling Coronation <strong>of</strong><br />
King George II.<br />
<strong>The</strong> King’s Consort website can be visited at<br />
www.tkcworld.org
Performers and Orchestration<br />
countertenors James Bowman, Robin Blaze, Robert Harre-Jones, Charles Humphries, Bernhard Landauer, Peter Nardone,<br />
Richard Wyn Roberts. high tenors and tenors Andrew Carwood, Charles Daniels, Duncan Mackenzie, Rodrigo del Pozo,<br />
Angus Smith, Paul Tindall, Mat<strong>the</strong>w Vine. bari<strong>to</strong>nes Stephen Charlesworth, Julian Clarkson, Robert Evans, Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Foster,<br />
Tom Guthrie, Damian O’Keeffe, Charles Pott. basses Simon Birchall, Robert MacDonald, Richard Savage<br />
violin Simon Jones, Rebecca Miles. viola Jane Rogers, Ka<strong>the</strong>rine McGillivray. cello Jane Coe, Ka<strong>the</strong>rine Sharman,<br />
Imogen Seth-Smith. violone Mark Levy. chitarrone David Miller, William Carter, Lynda Sayce, Elizabeth Kenny.<br />
guitar William Carter. organ James O’Donnell, James Johns<strong>to</strong>ne, Gary Cooper. drum Charles Fullbrook, Peter Beament,<br />
George Lawn, William <strong>Lo</strong>ckhart, Michael Skinner. fanfare trumpet David Staff, Adrian Woodward, Susan Addison,<br />
Abigail Newman, Tom Lees. cornett Jeremy West, David Staff, Adrian Woodward, <strong>The</strong>resa Caudle. al<strong>to</strong> sackbut Susan Addison,<br />
Adam Woolf. tenor sackbut Susan Addison, Richard Cheetham, Philip Dale, Mark Hor<strong>to</strong>n, Tom Lees, Abigail Newman,<br />
Paul Nieman, Adam Woolf. bass sackbut Adrian France, Patrick Jackman, Anthony Leggett, Andrew Harwood-White<br />
2 Drums CF, PB, GL, WL, MS drum<br />
3 Rotta CF, PB, GL, WL, MS drum; DS, AW, SA, AN, TL trpt<br />
4 Vieni, vieni Himeneo 6Ct, 2Ht, 4T, 4Bar, 2B: 2vln, vla, vc,<br />
vlne, sck(a), 2sck(t), sck(b) 2org, 3chit<br />
choir 1: SJ vln, KMcG, JR vla, JC vc<br />
JOD org, DM, WC chit<br />
BL/RB/CH Ct, RWR/RHJ/PN Ct<br />
DM/AC T, CP/TG Bar<br />
choir 2: SA sck(a), AN, PN sck(t), AF sck(b)<br />
JJ org, LS chit, ML vlne<br />
RdelP/CD Ht, MV/AS T, RE/JC Bar<br />
SB/RMcD B<br />
5 Canzona a 8 2cn, 2sck(t), 2vln, vla, vc, 2org, 2chit<br />
choir 1: JW, DS cn, SA, PN sck(t), JOD org, DM chit<br />
choir 2: SJ, RM vln, JR vla, JC vc, GC org, WC chit<br />
6 Kapsberger DM, LS chit, WC guit<br />
12<br />
7 Cantiam di Dio 3Ct, 3T, 4Bar, 2B, 2cn, vln, vla, vc, 5sck(t),<br />
2sck(b), 2org, 3chit<br />
choir 1: DS cn, SJ vln, JR vla, JC vc/RE Bar/DM chit<br />
in tuttis also RB, RWR Ct, PT T<br />
choir 2: CH Ct, AW, SA sck(t), AF sck(b)<br />
JOD org/EK chit<br />
in tuttis also JW cn, MV T, CP Bar, SB B<br />
choir 3: CD T, AN, PN sck(t)<br />
PJ sck(b)/JJ org/WC chit<br />
in tuttis also RC sck(t), JC, CF Bar, RS B<br />
8 Drums CF, PB, GL, WL, MS drum<br />
9 La Battaglia 2cn, 5sck(t), sck(b), org<br />
DS, JW cn, SA sck(a), AN, TL, RC, PN sck(t)<br />
AF sck(b)/JOD org<br />
bl Lie<strong>to</strong> godea 2Ct, 2vln, vla, vc, vlne, 2 org, 2chit<br />
choir 1: JB Ct, SJ vln, JR vla, KS vc<br />
JOD org, WC chit<br />
choir 2: RB Ct, RM vln, JC vc, ML vlne<br />
GC org, DM chit
m Variazioni sopra La Folia DM, LS chit, WC guit<br />
bn La Leona 2vln, vla, vc, 2cn, 2sck(t), 2chit, 2org<br />
choir 1: SJ vln, DS cn, JR vla, JC vc & WC chit<br />
JOD org<br />
choir 2: JW cn, RM vln, SA, PN sck(t)<br />
DM chit, GC org<br />
bo La Ciaccona DM, LS chit, WC guit<br />
bp Udite, chiari cn, 4Ct, 2Ht, T, 4Bar, 3B, org, 3chit<br />
choir 1: DS cn, CH, RHJ Ct, CD Ht,<br />
RE, TG, CP Bar, SB, RS B<br />
choir 2: BL, RB Ct, RdelP Ht, AS T<br />
SC Bar, RMcD B<br />
bc: ML vlne, JOD, JJ org, DM/LS/WC chit<br />
bq La Veneziana<br />
cn, sck(a), sck(t), sck(b), 2vln, vla, vc, 2org, 2chit<br />
choir 1: JW cn, SA sck(a), PN sck(t), AF sck(b)<br />
JOD org, DM chit<br />
choir 2: SJ, RM vln, KMcG vla, JC vc<br />
JJ org, WC chit<br />
br Imperiale prima and drums DS, AW, SA, AN, TL trpt; CF, PB,<br />
GL, WL, MS drum<br />
2 Imperiale seconda DS, AW, SA, AN, TL trpt<br />
3 Kyrie Ct, T: cn, sck(a), 3sck(t), sck(b), org + 12 chorus (3Ct,<br />
3T, 3Bar, 3B)<br />
Kyrie I: CD T, AW, TL, PN sck(t), AF sck(b), JOD org<br />
Christe: primus chorus: JW cn, BL Ct, SA sck(a)<br />
AW sck(t)<br />
secundus chorus: CD T, TL, PN sck(t)<br />
AF sck(b), JOD org<br />
Kyrie II: primus chorus: JW cn, BL Ct, SA sck(a)<br />
AW sck(t)<br />
secundus chorus: CD T, TL, PN sck(t)<br />
AF sck(b), JOD org<br />
PN/RWR/RB Ct, PT/DM/AS T<br />
CF/JC/TG Bar, RMcD/SB/RS B + JJ org<br />
13<br />
4 Gloria 2vln, vla, vc, vlne, 3chit, 2org, cn, 2sck(t), sck(b) +<br />
4Ct, 5T, 5Bar, 4B<br />
choir 1: DS cn, SJ vln, JR vla, RE Bar<br />
choir 2: CH Ct/RM vln, RdelP T/KMcG vla,<br />
CP Bar/KS vc, SB B/JC vc<br />
choir 3: RWR/RB/PN/RHJ Ct,<br />
MV/AC/PT T, DoK/CF/TG Bar<br />
RMcD/RS/JC B + JJ org<br />
choir 4: CD T, AN sck(t), SA sck(t), AF sck(b)<br />
b.c.: JOD, JJ org, ML vlne, DM/LS/WC chit<br />
5 In<strong>to</strong>natione Settimo <strong>to</strong>no JOD org<br />
6 Canzon per ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni sck(a), 4sck(t), 3 sck(b), org<br />
SA sck(a), AW, TL, AN, PN sck(t), PJ, AL, AF sck(b)<br />
JOD org<br />
7 Sursum corda AC celebrant, tutti tenors & basses<br />
8 Sanctus Ct, Bar, 2cn, sck(a), 4sck(t), 3sck(b), 2org, 3chit,<br />
12 chorus (3Ct, 3T, 3Bar, 3B)<br />
choir 1: JW cn, RHJ Ct, SA sck(a), AW sck(t)<br />
choir 2: RE Bar, PN sck(t), AL, PJ sck(b) + JJ org<br />
choir 3: RWR/CH/BL Ct, MV/AC/PT T<br />
JC/CF/DoK Bar, SB/RMcD/RS B + DS cn<br />
AN, TL sck(t), AF sck(b)<br />
b.c.: JOD, JJ org, ML vlne, DM/LS/WC chit<br />
9 In<strong>to</strong>natione Primo <strong>to</strong>no JOD org<br />
bl Christe, adoramus te 3Ct, 3Ct, 3T, 3Bar, 3B + org<br />
BL/RHJ/CH Ct, PN/RWR/RB Ct, AC/AS/PT T, CP/TG/JC Bar,<br />
SB/RMcD/RS B + JOD org<br />
bm Sonata XX<br />
4cn, 8sck(t), 3sck(b), 2vln, vla, vc, vlne, 2org, 3chit<br />
choir 1: JW cn, RM vln, AW, PN, MH sck(t), AF sck(b)<br />
choir 2: DS cn, RC, PD sck(t), AL sck(b)<br />
choir 3: SA, AN, TL sck(t), AHW sck(b)<br />
choir 4: AW, TC cn, KMcG vla, ISS vc<br />
choir 5: SJ vln, JR vla, JC vc, ML vlne<br />
b.c.: JOD, JJ org, WC/LS/DM chit
A<br />
LO SPOSALIZIO Le mariage de Venise avec la mer<br />
PARTIR DU XI e SIÈCLE, les marins vénitiens se<br />
réunirent une fois l’an pour <strong>of</strong>frir des prières<br />
à San Nicolò, le saint patron des marins, lui<br />
demand ant de continuer à les protéger. Initialement,<br />
l’<strong>of</strong>fice était une simple Benedictio où, de conserve avec<br />
des prières à saint Nicolas, la mer Adriatique était<br />
bénie avec de l’eau bénite. À la fin du XVI e siècle, cette<br />
cérémonie était devenue l’une des dates les plus somp -<br />
tueuses et importantes du calendrier vénitien. Le jour<br />
de l’Ascension donnait alors le coup d’envoi d’un grand<br />
festival de printemps, couronné par le mariage symbol -<br />
ique de Venise avec l’Adriatique : le <strong>Sposalizio</strong>. Dans<br />
une cité où les rituels de fertilité avaient <strong>to</strong>ujours été de<br />
haute importance, ce mariage cérémoniel se vit conférer<br />
les plus grands spectacle et pompe. Le festival, qui com -<br />
prenait des divertissements publics et une foire de<br />
quinze jours, constituait aussi une puissante méta -<br />
phore, un symbole de l’empire vénitien.<br />
Deux descriptions majeures, respectivement con -<br />
sacrées aux cérémonies des XVI e et XVII e siècles, nous<br />
donnent une splendide vue d’ensemble de ce jour, qui<br />
se déroulait, pour l’essentiel, ainsi : les dignitaires vénit -<br />
iens suivaient le doge, lors d’une célébration en grande<br />
partie pr<strong>of</strong>ane, jusqu’à un point central de la lagune, où<br />
des prières traditionnelles de protection était pronon -<br />
cées et où un anneau d’or était symboliquement jeté à<br />
la mer ; la procession se rendait alors à l’église de San<br />
Nicolò, sur le Lido, pour un grand <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
Au XVI e siècle, la cérémonie du <strong>Sposalizio</strong> com -<br />
mençait à l’aube, le jour de l’Ascension, le Cavaliere del<br />
Doge (responsable des cérémonies d’État) s’assurant<br />
que la mer était assez calme pour au<strong>to</strong>riser une pro -<br />
cession de bateaux. Si tel était le cas, les représentants<br />
des Rason Vecchie remettaient le Vera (un anneau<br />
cérémoniel en or) et le Cavaliere proclamait l’ouverture<br />
14<br />
de la Festa della Sensa. Après avoir célébré la messe<br />
à San Marco (en l’absence de <strong>to</strong>ute description<br />
contemporaine de musique à grande échelle exécutée<br />
lors de cet événement, nous sup posons généralement<br />
que cet <strong>of</strong>fice était relative ment simple), le doge,<br />
accompagné de <strong>to</strong>utes les plus importantes figures de<br />
Venise, dont les ambassadeurs et les hauts magistrats,<br />
embarquait à bord du Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro, la galère céré moni -<br />
elle, merveilleusement ornée, de la république, pour<br />
être conduit au centre de la lagune par quatre cents<br />
rameurs. Pendant que les <strong>of</strong>ficiels fen daient les eaux, le<br />
chœur de San Marco chantait des motets et les cloches<br />
des églises sonnaient. Des milliers d’autres bateaux,<br />
gondoles, barges de location, bateaux-pilotes et galères,<br />
<strong>to</strong>us décorés dans le style le plus orné, se joignaient à la<br />
procession. Le Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro faisait halte près du couvent<br />
de Sant’Elena, où il rencontrait le patriarche de Castello,<br />
sur un autre bateau. Là, deux chanoines chantaient<br />
« Exaudi nos, Domine, cum pro piciis » (« Entendsnous,<br />
Seigneur, avec bienveillance »), paroles auxquelles<br />
le patriarche répondait « Ut hoc mare nobis et omnibus<br />
in eo navigantibus tranquillum et quietum concedere<br />
digneris te rogamus, audi nos » (« Nous te demandons<br />
de daigner accorder que cette mer soit tranquille et<br />
paisible pour nous et pour <strong>to</strong>us ceux qui y naviguent,<br />
entends-nous ») avant de bénir l’eau. Puis, les deux<br />
chanoines chantaient un Oremus et le bateau patriarcal<br />
s’approchait du Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro ; le prêtre en chef de San<br />
Marco, le Primicerio, en<strong>to</strong>nnait alors un chant et<br />
bénissait le doge avec de l’eau bénite. La véritable<br />
cérémonie de mariage se déroulait à l’embou chure<br />
de la lagune, là où le Lido se rompt naturellement<br />
pour ouvrir les eaux de Venise à l’Adriatique ; le doge<br />
lançait un anneau d’or par-dessus bord en disant<br />
« Despons amus te Mare, in signum veri perpetuique
dominii » (« Nous t’épousons, Mer, en signe de vraie<br />
et perpétuelle domination »). La cérémonie achevée, le<br />
doge et ses invités s’arrêtaient à San Nicolò al Lido pour<br />
un grand <strong>of</strong>fice, suivi d’un banquet qui durait jusqu’au<br />
soir.<br />
Au XVII e siècle, l’<strong>of</strong>fice matutinal à San Marco semble<br />
avoir cédé la place à une somptueuse messe en l’église<br />
de San Nicolò al Lido, après les cérémonies aquatiques.<br />
La journée débutait au palais du doge pour aboutir<br />
directe ment aux processions pr<strong>of</strong>anes et à la béné -<br />
diction des eaux et, de là, à l’église de San Nicolò, cadre<br />
d’une messe musicalement spectaculaire. Un Anglais en<br />
route sur le « Grand Tour », Richard Lassels, assista à<br />
l’une de ces célébrations, minutieusement consignée<br />
dans son Voyage <strong>of</strong> Italy : « Il se trouve que j’assistai<br />
trois fois au Grand Triomphe de la Mer, ou fête de<br />
l’Ascension, à Venise. Vers huit heures du matin, les<br />
Sénateurs, en robes écarlates, se retrouvent au Palais<br />
des Doges ; ils prennent alors le Doge et processionnent<br />
avec lui jusqu’à la berge, où les attend le Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro—<br />
avec le Nonce du Pape à sa droite et le Patriarche de<br />
Venise à sa gauche. Puis, montant à bord du Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro<br />
par une belle passerelle jetée sur la berge, le Doge prend<br />
place et les Sénateurs, au nombre de deux ou trois<br />
cents, s’asseoient comme ils le peuvent au<strong>to</strong>ur de la<br />
galère. Une fois le Sénat placé, l’ancre est levée et la<br />
chiourme, avertie par le sifflet des Capitaines et le son<br />
des trompettes, commence à donner des coups de rame<br />
et à faire avancer le Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro gravement sur l’eau,<br />
comme sur des cioppini. Ils voguent ainsi durant deux<br />
miles sur la lagune, cependant que la musique joue et<br />
chante des Epithalames <strong>to</strong>ut au long du trajet, rendant<br />
Neptune jaloux d’entendre Hymen appelé sur ses<br />
dominations. Au<strong>to</strong>ur du Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro afflue une foule de<br />
Péottes et de Gondoles, luxueusement couvertes de<br />
15<br />
somptueux Dais de soie et de riches ét<strong>of</strong>fes, manœuv -<br />
rées à la rame par des bateliers en superbes livrées, à<br />
l’instar des Trompettistes. Des Ambassadeurs étran -<br />
gers, divers nobles du pays et étrangers présentent<br />
leurs respect à la galère du Doge <strong>to</strong>ut au long du<br />
chemin, allant et venant. Enfin, une fois parvenu au lieu<br />
désigné, le Doge lance un Anneau à la Mer, sans autre<br />
cérémonie que cette déclamation : « Desponsamus te<br />
Mare, in signum veri perpetuique dominij » ; puis, il<br />
re<strong>to</strong>urne à l’Église de Saint Nicolas au Lido (une Île<br />
voisine), où il assiste à une grand’ Messe, avec le Sénat.<br />
Après quoi il rentre chez lui dans le même appareil et<br />
invite ceux qui l’accompag nèrent sur sa Galère à dîner<br />
dans son palais.»<br />
Les forces musicales disponibles<br />
pour le <strong>Sposalizio</strong><br />
Peu de cités ont vu leur musique autant étudiée;<br />
pourtant, les détails connus du déroulement exact des<br />
jours de fête majeurs à Venise, même durant son âge<br />
d’or, sont é<strong>to</strong>nnamment légers. La plupart des chan t -<br />
eurs alors disponibles à Saint-Marc—soit une trentaine<br />
au grand complet—participaient certainement à cet<br />
événement, l’un des plus importants de l’année, en<br />
compagnie d’un nombre équivalent d’instrumentistes,<br />
auxquels se joignaient les musiciens d’« extérieur »—<br />
les tambourinaires et les six fameuses trompettes<br />
d’argent du doge (les Piffari, dont le chef ne jouait<br />
traditionnellement pas). Ce grand ensemble de<br />
musiciens nous donne à voir les possibilités de fanfares<br />
et de tambourinage traditionnel, de musiques à grande<br />
échelle destinées au public et de pièces plus intimes (en<br />
droite ligne des traditions suivies aux <strong>of</strong>fices tenus à<br />
Saint-Marc) vouées aux seules oreilles du doge et des<br />
dignitaires immédiats.
L’importance de San Nicolò<br />
Quiconque visite l’église de San Nicolò al Lido au XX e<br />
siècle la trouve relativement peu spectaculaire com -<br />
parée aux nombreuses églises plus ornées de la cité.<br />
Sur les centaines de saints vénérés par les Vénitiens<br />
(la plupart étaient d’origine locale, mais d’autres avaient<br />
vu leurs reliques, souvent volées en Orient, entreposées<br />
à Venise au temps des croisades), quatre occupèrent<br />
la place d’honneur dans l’hagiologie vénitienne : Marco<br />
(dédi cataire de la célèbre Basilica), Teodoro (saint<br />
patron de Venise avant l’arrivée de Marco), Giorgio<br />
(le même Georges qui terrassa le dragon, exploit à la<br />
suite duquel l’Angleterre l’adopta comme saint patron)<br />
et Nicolò, saint patron des marins—son culte avait<br />
débuté à Venise dès le XI e siècle et les Vénitiens avaient<br />
érigé en son honneur un monastère sur le Lido, en<br />
1053. Le site de ce monastère, à l’entrée de la mer<br />
Adriatique, valut à Nicolò une importance accrue auprès<br />
de cette popu lation essentiellement maritime.<br />
L’hommage rituel que lui rendent le doge et le<br />
patriarche suggère qu’il pourrait avoir personnellement<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficié durant les premières célé brations du <strong>Sposalizio</strong> :<br />
jusqu’en 1172, le monastère fut le lieu où les ci<strong>to</strong>yens<br />
se massaient pour acclamer les nouveaux doges et, <strong>to</strong>ut<br />
au long de la Renaissance, l’endroit servit de salle de<br />
banquet pour le départ des capitaines généraux. Ce ne<br />
fut qu’au cours des siècles suivants, au gré de<br />
l’expansion continentale de Venise, que le monastère fut<br />
éclipsé, en tant que centre politico-religieux majeur, par<br />
le palais des doges, nouvellement construit, et par la<br />
Basilica de San Marco. Mais sa protection soutenue des<br />
Vénitiens en mer, son pat ronage du doge et du capitaine<br />
général permirent à San Nicolò de faire jeu égal avec<br />
Marco, complétant ses fonctions spirituelles et<br />
maintenant des liens avec la population grâce à un lieu<br />
de culte majeur urbain.<br />
16<br />
DISQUE COMPACT I<br />
Processions et voyage sur la lagune<br />
Le jour de l’Ascension débute sur la place Saint-Marc,<br />
avec la cloche de la Basilica (piste 1). De l’extérieur<br />
de la place surgit une procession de tambours 2,<br />
annonciatrice de l’arrivée du doge et de ses invités;<br />
comme le décrit Lassels, cette procession est rejointe<br />
par les trompettes d’argent, qui exécutent la fanfare<br />
« Rotta » 3 consignée par Fantini dans sa méthode<br />
de trompette. Les fanfares de Fantini, entendues à<br />
plusieurs reprises au cours de cet enregistrement, sont<br />
représentatives des fanfares plus « modernes » qui<br />
allaient devenir à la mode au début du XVII e siècle et<br />
remplacer les œuvres surannées précédemment tran -<br />
scrites par Bendinelli. Une fois le doge en place, le<br />
grandiose madrigal Vieni, vieni Himeneo 4, pour deux<br />
chœurs de voix et instruments, accueille solennelle -<br />
ment l’assemblée et rend, pour reprendre les termes de<br />
Lassels, « Neptune jaloux d’entendre Hymen appelé sur<br />
ses dominations ». Publié posthumément en 1590, il est<br />
stylistiquement représentatif des œuvres ultérieures du<br />
très respecté Andrea Gabrieli.<br />
La première canzone instrumentale est due à un<br />
autre ancien organiste à San Marco, Gioseffo Guami,<br />
décrit par un contemporain comme un « extra -<br />
ordinaire » joueur d’instrument à archet. Sa sublime<br />
canzone à huit parties 5 est une belle œuvre, qui in cor -<br />
pore avec grand talent une harmonie inhabituelle ment<br />
douce à des textures changeantes, <strong>to</strong>ut en encourag eant<br />
les joueurs de cantus des deux chœurs opposés à se<br />
livrer à des ornements rivalisant avec ceux déjà écrits.<br />
Pendant que les musiciens se déplacent pour<br />
exécuter leur prochaine pièce, trois joueurs de<br />
chitarrone installés sur le bateau du doge interprètent<br />
une courte pièce 6 du luthiste natif de Venise, Giovanni<br />
Kapsberger, typique du nouveau style d’écriture pour
instruments à cordes pincées. Le splendide madrigal à<br />
douze parties d’Andrea Gabrieli, Cantiam di Dio 7, est<br />
une œuvre à grande échelle, <strong>to</strong>ute de magnificence,<br />
dont la texture, essentiellement homophonique au long<br />
de ses deux sections, recèle de somptueux tuttis, avec<br />
l’ensemble des douze voix et instruments ; elle loue<br />
Dieu pour avoir créé le ciel, la terre et, bien sûr, la mer.<br />
Les tambours fournissent un bref interlude 8, suivi<br />
d’une œuvre plus guerrière, la canzone La Battaglia 9<br />
d’Andrea Gabrieli, qui en spécifia l’exécution sur huit<br />
instruments à vent. L’écriture de batailles était une<br />
tradition populaire au XVI e siècle et celle de Gabrieli<br />
regarde vers des pièces comme la chanson La bataille<br />
de Marignan de Janequin et la Bataglia taliana de<br />
Hermann Werrecore, composée pour célébrer la défaite<br />
des Français à Pavie. Entre les appels de trompettes<br />
attendus et les fanfares de bataille, Gabrieli glisse une<br />
écriture exquisément subtile.<br />
Giovanni Gabrieli, le neveu d’Andrea, <strong>of</strong>fre un sub -<br />
lime contraste musical avec son délicieux madrigal à<br />
huit parties, Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo bl, instrumenté dans<br />
le présent enregistrement pour deux falsettistes et un<br />
riche accompagnement de cordes. Publié pour la<br />
première fois en 1587, ce madrigal se révéla parti -<br />
culière ment populaire: arrangé pour duo de luths, il fut<br />
également adapté par un élève de Gabrieli, Schütz, qui<br />
l’intégra à ses Psalmen Davids (1619). Au cœur d’un<br />
printemps vénitien traditionnellement humide, son <strong>to</strong>n<br />
doucement érotique, langoureux, a dû faire naître<br />
d’ardents désirs de beau temps. La Folia bm, improvisée<br />
ici sur trois instruments à cordes pincées d’après le style<br />
d’Alessandro Piccinini, venait d’arriver d’Espagne et<br />
jouissait d’une grande popularité en Italie.<br />
La Leona bn, titre de la Canzone XIX de Cesario<br />
Gussago, fait allusion au lion de Venise. De style<br />
essentiel lement homophone, l’écriture de Gussago est<br />
17<br />
extrême ment attrayante grâce au jeu entre les deux<br />
chœurs d’instruments, en opposition. Le titre de<br />
l’œuvre a pu être l’idée du compositeur—ou de son<br />
éditeur, désireux de rendre la pièce plus vendable<br />
auprès du public vénitien!<br />
À l’instar de La Folia, la Ciaccona entra dans<br />
la musique italienne au début du XVII e siècle ; sa<br />
popularité fut telle que presque <strong>to</strong>us les compositeurs<br />
l’incorporèrent dans une multitude d’œuvres. Ici, les<br />
instrumentistes improvisent sur l’un des plus brefs<br />
exemples de basse bo.<br />
Le madrigal Udite, chiari e generosi figli bp, œuvre<br />
massive, à seize parties, pour double chœur, de<br />
Giovanni Gabrieli est la pièce de résistance vocale des<br />
célébrations pr<strong>of</strong>anes ; son texte abonde en références à<br />
des personnages mythologiques marins—une mytho -<br />
logie immédiatement accessible à <strong>to</strong>ut Vénitien éduqué.<br />
Gabrieli composa pour qua<strong>to</strong>rze voix, soutenues avec<br />
une basse continue par-dessous et un unique « cornet<strong>to</strong><br />
mu<strong>to</strong> » par-dessus. Les huit chanteurs du premier<br />
chœur assument le rôle des Tri<strong>to</strong>ns qui appellent les<br />
ci<strong>to</strong>yens d’Adria à écouter Poséidon, roi des océans<br />
(Adria symbolisant plutôt Venise que la ville sise entre<br />
les embouchures du Pô et de l’Adige). Tri<strong>to</strong>n, lui-même<br />
fils de Poséidon, demeurait dans un palais d’or, au fond<br />
de la mer. « Gradita » (littéralement « destriers », ou<br />
chevaux blancs) fait référence à la manière dont Tri<strong>to</strong>n<br />
chevauchait des hippocampes ou autres monstres.<br />
Les Tri<strong>to</strong>ns (mi-hommes, mi-poissons), sur ordre de<br />
Poséidon, soufflaient dans une trompette-coquillage<br />
pour apaiser les vagues. Le second chœur tient le rôle<br />
des Sirènes, néréides capables de charmer quiconque<br />
entendait leur chant. Ulysse échappa à leurs séductions<br />
en s’attachant au mât de son bateau et en bouchant les<br />
oreilles de ses compagnons avec de la cire. Quand Jason<br />
et les Argonautes voguèrent près d’elles, elles chantèrent
en vain, surpassées par Orphée et sa lyre ; découvrant<br />
quelqu’un d’insensible à leurs chants, elles se jetèrent à<br />
la mer et furent métamorphosées en rochers. L’une de<br />
ces cinquantes Néréides (parmi lesquelles Thétis, mère<br />
d’Achille) était Amphitrite, mère de Tri<strong>to</strong>n. Le madrigal<br />
de Gabrieli est une magnifique composition à grande<br />
échelle, <strong>to</strong>ute de figuralisme et de contrastes drama -<br />
tiques, qui trouve son apogée dans un remarquable<br />
chœur final à seize parties exhortant les Vénitiens à la<br />
hardiesse et à la fierté.<br />
Avant que le doge n’ait atteint le point de la lagune<br />
d’où il lancera son anneau dans les eaux, les instru -<br />
mentistes jouent l’excellente canzone La Veneziana bq<br />
de <strong>Lo</strong>dovico Viadana. Cette œuvre, qui fait partie d’un<br />
recueil où chaque canzone doit son nom à une cité<br />
italienne, parvient superbement à combiner une ouver -<br />
ture enjouée et fraîche à une musique de solennité,<br />
admirable résumé de deux aspects contrastés de Venise.<br />
À l’achèvement de la partie pr<strong>of</strong>ane du <strong>Sposalizio</strong>, les<br />
trompettistes sonnent la fanfare Imperiale prima br,<br />
rejoints par les tambourineurs qui conduisent la<br />
procession sur la lagune, vers le Lido.<br />
DISQUE COMPACT II<br />
Messe solennelle tenue à San Nicolò<br />
« … Puis, [le doge] re<strong>to</strong>urne à l’Église de Saint Nicolas<br />
au Lido …, où il assiste à une grand’ messe, avec le<br />
Sénat » … Si l’ordre des musiques des cérémonies<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>anes de <strong>Lo</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong> doit être essentiellement<br />
conjonctural, la forme de musique requise lors de la<br />
célébration de la grand’ messe est plus clairement<br />
consignée. Seuls les grands moments musicaux sont<br />
présentés ici, car l’<strong>of</strong>fice à lui seul aurait rempli deux<br />
disques compacts. Les événements sont annoncés par la<br />
cloche de San Nicolò 1, signal du début de la messe. À<br />
18<br />
l’extérieur de l’église, les trompettistes exécutent une<br />
fanfare 2 pour proclamer l’arrivée du doge.<br />
De re<strong>to</strong>ur à l’intérieur de l’église, le premier élément<br />
musical de l’<strong>of</strong>fice est le magnifique Kyrie 3 à douze<br />
parties de Giovanni Gabrieli. La section d’ouverture<br />
place un unique ténor solo par-dessus quatre saque -<br />
boutes, le <strong>to</strong>ut dans une musique superbe d’équilibre,<br />
d’une grande solennité. Le « Christe » voit l’adjonction<br />
d’un chœur d’instruments supérieur, à l’écriture plus<br />
personnelle et pénitentielle. Quant à la troisième partie,<br />
elle ajoute la « Capella » (chœur de tutti) aux deux<br />
chœurs de solistes et d’instruments existants, créant de<br />
somptueuses textures à douze parties. La remarquable<br />
mise en musique à seize parties du Gloria 4, réalisée<br />
par Andrea Gabrieli pour quatre chœurs, est, elle aussi,<br />
saisissante. Trois de ces quatre chœurs sont constitués<br />
de chanteurs solistes et d’instruments, le quatrième<br />
étant la « Capella » de tutti. Avec un long texte à mettre<br />
en musique, l’œuvre essentiellement syllabique de<br />
Gabrieli s’avère très efficace, forte d’une écriture pour<br />
les chœurs alternés qui contraste avec de puissants<br />
piliers sonores lorsque les quatre chœurs sont<br />
ensemble. Le « Cum Sanc<strong>to</strong> Spiritu » final danse dans<br />
son nouveau mètre ternaire.<br />
Une brève In<strong>to</strong>natione 5 pour orgue introduit<br />
l’inquiétante Canzon per ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni 6 de Tiburtio<br />
Massaino, autre œuvre remarquable présentant<br />
l’impos ante sonorité de huit saqueboutes. Le résultat,<br />
saisissant, montre la puissance d’un tel ensemble<br />
jouant vigoureusement, mais démontre aussi la<br />
sonorité é<strong>to</strong>nnamment intime de ces mêmes instru -<br />
ments joués doucement. Le plain-chant tenait un grand<br />
rôle dans l’<strong>of</strong>fice et nous avons ici le Sursum corda, avec<br />
sa préface spéciale pour le jour de l’Ascension 7, qui<br />
aboutit directement à l’extraordinaire mise en musique<br />
à douze parties du Sanctus 8 de Giovanni Gabrieli, avec
une instrumentation identique à celle du Kyrie. De<br />
nouveau, sonorité et timbre sont exploités au maxi -<br />
mum, cependant que les cieux éthérés sont mis en<br />
contraste avec la terre modeste et que les « Hosanna»<br />
dansent joyeusement.<br />
Le motet de communion est précédé d’une autre<br />
In<strong>to</strong>natione d’Andrea Gabrieli, jouée à l’orgue 9, pour<br />
mener au ravissant Christe, adoramus te bl de Claudio<br />
Monteverdi, sous-titré « Nella Elevatione di N. Signore ».<br />
Le maître opère ici, créant un chef-d’œuvre miniature:<br />
l’écriture d’ouverture, largement homophonique, con -<br />
traste avec le chromatisme ascendant de « quia per<br />
Sanctam Crucem tuam » et le phrasé plaintif, implorant<br />
de la voix solo qui déclame « redemisti mundum ».<br />
La sublime Sonata XX bm de Giovanni Gabrieli clôt<br />
l’<strong>of</strong>fice. Écrite pour vingt-deux instruments et basse<br />
continue, jouant en cinq chœurs séparés, cette pièce<br />
est l’œuvre instrumentale à plus grande échelle du<br />
compositeur qui montre, dans le traitement du grand<br />
ensemble, sa <strong>to</strong>tale maîtrise de cette forme. Chaque<br />
chœur est introduit séparément et possède son<br />
caractère propre : le chœur d’ouverture à six parties<br />
recèle ainsi une solennité calme, avec une mélodie<br />
ascendante doucement pointée et un motif descendant<br />
contrasté, comprenant des paires de notes adjacentes.<br />
Le deuxième chœur entre avec le traditionnel rythme<br />
de canzone dactylique (longue–brève–brève). Au<br />
troisième chœur, constitué d’instruments accordés à un<br />
diapason inférieur—ici, quatre saqueboutes (Gabrieli<br />
ne spécifie l’instrumentation que pour trois des lignes<br />
instrumentales)—, succède un quatrième chœur,<br />
d’instru mentation plus légère, dont le style et la<br />
tessiture font écho à ceux du deuxième. Le cinquième<br />
chœur est traité <strong>to</strong>ut à fait différemment, avec une<br />
écriture plus animée, plus active—bien adaptée aux<br />
instruments à cordes. Le premier tutti, somptueux, ne<br />
19<br />
survient qu’au bout de quelques minutes, d’abord<br />
doucement, « comme jaugeant les eaux », puis, quel -<br />
ques mesures plus tard, avec davantage d’emphase.<br />
Gabrieli passe ensuite à une section moins formelle,<br />
avec des combinaisons variées, réunissant parfois les<br />
cinq chœurs. La durée de ces dialogues s’accourcit et<br />
soudain, comme incapable d’attendre plus longtemps,<br />
une saqueboute aiguë se dégage dans un rythme<br />
furieusement exultant, jazzy. Voilà l’excuse que <strong>to</strong>ut<br />
l’ensemble attendait manifestement : les forces com -<br />
binées décochent un puissant bloc acoustique. Mais<br />
Gabrieli ne décharge pas <strong>to</strong>ut son canon ; revenant à<br />
une brève section de dialogue interchoral, le chœur de<br />
cordes bifurque ensuite, avec une section merveilleuse -<br />
ment explora<strong>to</strong>ire, de couleur sombre, dans un mètre<br />
ternaire nouvellement découvert. Tout est finalement<br />
ramené au mètre binaire antérieur, conventionnel, mais<br />
les graines ont été semées et chaque chœur adopte le<br />
nouveau mètre ternaire, élégamment équilibré, avant<br />
d’aboutir à un apogée inéluctable. Puis, une pause pour<br />
<strong>to</strong>us les instruments vient mieux accentuer l’extra -<br />
ordinaire puissance des forces combinées dans un autre<br />
pilier sonore monumental et, à mesure que la sonate<br />
tend vers sa conclusion, chaque instrument célèbre à<br />
<strong>to</strong>ur de rôle l’événement avec sa propre fanfare,<br />
achevant l’une des pièces instrumentales les plus<br />
remarquables de l’époque.<br />
Au moment où le doge quitte l’église, les valets de<br />
pied ouvrent en grand les imposantes portes occi -<br />
dentales. Le doge marche alors dehors, salué par l’extra -<br />
ordinaire sonorité des cloches de Venise bn, qui<br />
carillonnent dans leur célébration du plus glorieux des<br />
mariages.<br />
ROBERT KING © 1998<br />
Traduction HYPERION
D<br />
LO SPOSALIZIO Le nozze di Venezia col mare<br />
ALL’XI SECOLO i marinai veneziani si riuniscono<br />
una volta all’anno per <strong>of</strong>frire le loro preghiere a<br />
San Nicolò, il San<strong>to</strong> Patrono dei marinai, e per<br />
invocarne la continua protezione. Inizialmente la ceri -<br />
monia religiosa era una semplice Benedictio in cui, con<br />
le preghiere rivolte a San Nicolò, il mare Adriatico veniva<br />
benedet<strong>to</strong> con l’acqua santa. Nel tardo XVI secolo la<br />
cerimonia era ormai considerata uno degli appunta -<br />
menti più fas<strong>to</strong>si ed importanti del calendario vene -<br />
ziano. Nel giorno dell’Ascensione si teneva allora una<br />
grandiosa festa primaverile imperniata sullo <strong>Sposalizio</strong><br />
del mare, le nozze simboliche di Venezia con il Mar<br />
Adriatico. In una città dove i riti della fertilità erano<br />
sempre stati considerati importantissimi, questa ceri -<br />
monia di nozze veniva messa in scena con grandissimo<br />
spettacolo e pompa. La festa che comprendeva spettacoli<br />
pubblici ed una fiera di quindici giorni era altresì una<br />
potente metafora ed un simbolo del dominio di Venezia.<br />
Due descrizioni principali, una delle celebrazioni del<br />
XVI secolo e l’altra delle cerimonie di un secolo dopo,<br />
ci presentano l’epoca in modo straordinario. Nel corso<br />
della cerimonia i dignitari del patrizia<strong>to</strong> veneziano<br />
seguivano il Doge in una celebrazione in gran parte<br />
laica, al centro della laguna, dove si chiedeva la<br />
protezione del san<strong>to</strong> con le preghiere tradizionali ed un<br />
anello nuziale d’oro veniva lancia<strong>to</strong> simbolicamente nel<br />
mare: il corteo passava quindi alla Chiesa di San Nicolò<br />
al Lido per una grande cerimonia religiosa.<br />
La cerimonia dello <strong>Sposalizio</strong> del mare del XVI<br />
secolo iniziava all’alba del giorno dell’ Ascensione,<br />
quando il Cavaliere del Doge (responsabile delle ceri -<br />
monie civiche) controllava se il mare fosse sufficiente -<br />
mente calmo per la cerimonia. Se il mare era calmo, la<br />
Vera nuziale (un anello d’oro cerimoniale) veniva<br />
rilasciata dai funzionari delle Rason Vecchie ed il Cava -<br />
20<br />
liere annunciava l’inizio della Festa della Sensa. Dopo<br />
la celebrazione della Messa nella basilica di San Marco<br />
(data l’assenza di descrizioni contemporanee della<br />
musica grandiosa nel corso di questa cerimonia, e data<br />
l’abbondanza della musica presentata più tardi nel<br />
corso della giornata, si presume in genere che la Messa<br />
fosse una cerimonia relativamente semplice), il Doge,<br />
accompagna<strong>to</strong> da tutti i patrizi più eminenti di Venezia,<br />
fra cui gli ambascia<strong>to</strong>ri e gli alti magistrati, saliva sul<br />
Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro, la galea cerimoniale da parata meravigliosa -<br />
mente ornata della repubblica. Il Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro, ai cui remi<br />
erano quattrocen<strong>to</strong> uomini, procedeva quindi al centro<br />
della laguna. Mentre l’imbarcazione procedeva sull’<br />
acqua, il coro della basilica di San Marco cantava<br />
mottetti e le campane delle chiese suonavano a festa.<br />
Migliaia di altre imbarcazioni, gondole, chiatte prese in<br />
affit<strong>to</strong>, battelli pilota e galee, tutti decorati nello stile più<br />
riccamente orna<strong>to</strong>, si univano alla processione. Il<br />
Bucin <strong>to</strong>ro si fermava accan<strong>to</strong> al conven<strong>to</strong> di Sant’Elena<br />
dove incontrava il patriarca di Castello su un’altra<br />
imbar cazione. Lì due canonici in<strong>to</strong>navano ‘Exaudi nos,<br />
Domine, cum propiciis’ (‘Ascoltaci con benevolenza, o<br />
Signore’), a cui il patriarca rispondeva ‘Ut hoc mare<br />
nobis et omnibus in eo navigantibus tranquillum et<br />
quietum concedere digneris te rogamus, audi nos’ (‘Ti<br />
preghiamo Signore di concederci che ques<strong>to</strong> mare sia<br />
tranquillo e calmo per noi uomini e per tutti gli altri che<br />
lo navigano. Ascoltaci o Signore’). Il patriarca bene -<br />
diceva l’acqua ed i due canonici in<strong>to</strong>navano l’Oremus.<br />
L’imbarcazione del patriarca si avvicinava al Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro<br />
ed il sommo sacerdote della basilica di San Marco, il<br />
Primicerio, in<strong>to</strong>nava e benediceva il Doge con acqua<br />
santa. Alla foce della laguna, il pun<strong>to</strong> dove le acque del<br />
Lido si immet<strong>to</strong>no nell’Adriatico, si teneva la vera e<br />
propria cerimonia nuziale, nel corso della quale il Doge
lanciava un anello nuziale d’oro in mare dicendo<br />
‘Desponsamus te Mare, in signum veri perpetuique<br />
dominii’ (‘Ti sposiamo, o mare, come segno di vero e<br />
perpetuo dominio’). Dopo la cerimonia il Doge e gli<br />
ospiti si fermavano alla chiesa di San Nicolò al Lido per<br />
una grandiosa cerimonia religiosa, seguita da un<br />
banchet<strong>to</strong> fino a tarda sera.<br />
Nel XVII secolo sembra che la cerimonia religiosa del<br />
mattino pres<strong>to</strong> nella basilica di San Marco non fosse più<br />
inclusa nei festeggiamenti, e che fosse stata sostituita da<br />
una Messa solenne nella Chiesa di San Nicolò al Lido<br />
dopo le cerimonie sull’acqua. I festeggiamenti del<br />
giorno dell’Ascensione iniziavano al palazzo del Doge ed<br />
erano seguiti dai cortei civici e dalla benedizione delle<br />
acque, e da lì alla Chiesa di San Nicolò per una Messa<br />
musicalmente spettacolare. Richard Lassels, un inglese<br />
in viaggio in Europa assistette ad una di queste<br />
cerimonie e la descrisse particolareggiatamente nel suo<br />
Viaggio in Italia: ‘Mi recai a Venezia tre volte, durante<br />
il grande Trionfo del mare, chiama<strong>to</strong> anche la festa dell’<br />
Ascensione, che si svolgeva in ques<strong>to</strong> modo. Alle ot<strong>to</strong> del<br />
mattino circa, i Sena<strong>to</strong>ri nelle loro <strong>to</strong>ghe scarlatte, si<br />
riuniscono al Palazzo del Doge e procedono con questi<br />
in corteo verso la spiaggia, dove li attende il Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro;<br />
il Nunzio Papale si trova a destra del Doge ed il patri -<br />
arca di Venezia alla sua sinistra. Percorrendo un ele -<br />
gante ponte dispos<strong>to</strong> dalla spiaggia al Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro, il doge<br />
sale sull’imbarcazione ed i duecen<strong>to</strong>-trecen<strong>to</strong> Sena<strong>to</strong>ri<br />
prendono pos<strong>to</strong> sulla Galea dove possono da<strong>to</strong> il loro<br />
numero. Quando i Sena<strong>to</strong>ri sono tutti a bordo, si leva<br />
l’ancora e gli schiavi, avvertiti dal fischio del Capitano<br />
e dal suono delle trombe, iniziano a muovere i remi allo<br />
stesso tempo ed a far procedere il Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro podero sa -<br />
mente sulle acque, come se l’imbarcazione procedesse<br />
sui cioppini. Procedono così per due miglia sulla<br />
Laguna, mentre suona la musica e si in<strong>to</strong>nano Epithal -<br />
21<br />
ami lungo tut<strong>to</strong> il percorso, e Nettuno s’ingelosisce nel<br />
sentire il nome di Imeneo invoca<strong>to</strong> nel suo dominio.<br />
At<strong>to</strong>rno al Bucen<strong>to</strong>ro procede una flottiglia di Piotte e<br />
Gondole, riccamente ricoperte da sontuosi Baldacchini<br />
di seta e ricchi tessuti, vogate da marinai che indossano<br />
ricchi costumi, ed accompagnate dai Trombettieri. A<br />
ques<strong>to</strong> pun<strong>to</strong> gli Ambascia<strong>to</strong>ri esteri, numerosi nobili<br />
del paese e stranieri ricchi assis<strong>to</strong>no al procedere della<br />
galea del Doge, durante il viaggio sia di andata che di<br />
ri<strong>to</strong>rno. Quando il Doge raggiunge la meta prestabilita,<br />
lancia un Anello nel Mare, senza altre cerimonie, e dice<br />
‘Desponsamus te Mare, in signum veri perpetui<br />
dominij’, ‘Ti sposiamo, o mare, come testimonianza<br />
del nostro perpetuo dominio su di te’. E ri<strong>to</strong>rna quindi<br />
alla Chiesa di San Nicolò in Lido (su un isolot<strong>to</strong>) dove<br />
assiste alla Messa con il Sena<strong>to</strong>. Al termine della Messa<br />
ri<strong>to</strong>rna a casa seguendo lo stesso cerimoniale e invita le<br />
persone che l’hanno accompagna<strong>to</strong> sulla Galea a cena<br />
nel suo palazzo.’<br />
Le forze musicali disponibili<br />
per <strong>Lo</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong> del mare<br />
Esis<strong>to</strong>no poche città sulla cui musica siano state effet -<br />
tuate così tante ricerche, ma i particolari effettivamente<br />
conosciuti delle composizioni musicali presentate<br />
durante le feste principali di Venezia, persino all’apice<br />
del suo splendore, sono sorprendentemente limitati. I<br />
can<strong>to</strong>ri della basilica di San Marco del periodo erano<br />
circa trenta, e la maggior parte, possiamo supporre,<br />
avrebbero partecipa<strong>to</strong> a questa occasione, una delle più<br />
importanti dell’anno. Il numero degli strumentisti era<br />
simile, ed a questi si univano i musicisti ‘esterni’, i<br />
suona<strong>to</strong>ri di tamburo ed i famosi sei trombettieri<br />
d’argen<strong>to</strong> del Doge (i Piffari, il cui primo esecu<strong>to</strong>re<br />
tradizionalmente non suonava). Da<strong>to</strong> il numero eleva<strong>to</strong><br />
di musicisti sono evidenti le grandi possibilità per
fanfare e rulli di tamburo tradizionali, musica su grande<br />
scala intesa per il pubblico in genere e brani musicali<br />
più intimi (in linea con le tradizioni seguite nelle<br />
cerimonie religiose che si tenevano a San Marco) che<br />
erano intesi soltan<strong>to</strong> per il Doge ed i patrizi immediati.<br />
L’importanza di San Nicolò<br />
Ad un visita<strong>to</strong>re del XX secolo, la Chiesa di San Nicolò al<br />
Lido di Venezia sembra relativamente non spettacolare<br />
rispet<strong>to</strong> a molte altre chiese più ricche della città. Delle<br />
centinaia di santi venerati allora dai veneziani (molti dei<br />
quali indigeni, altri le cui reliquie furono scoperte<br />
durante le Crociate, spesso rubate dall’Oriente), quattro<br />
emergono nella martirologia veneziana: San Marco (a<br />
cui fu dedicata la famosa basilica), San Teodoro (che era<br />
il Patrono di Venezia prima di Marco), San Giorgio (lo<br />
stesso martire che secondo la leggenda uccise il dragone<br />
e fu adotta<strong>to</strong> come Patrono dell’Inghilterra) e San<br />
Nicolò, il Patrono dei marinai. Il cul<strong>to</strong> di San Nicolò a<br />
Venezia era inizia<strong>to</strong> almeno nell’XI secolo ed i Veneziani<br />
avevano eret<strong>to</strong> un monastero nel Lido in suo onore nel<br />
1053. Il luogo dove sorgeva ques<strong>to</strong> monastero, all’in -<br />
gresso del Mare Adriatico, accrebbe l’importanza<br />
attribuita a San Nicolò da parte della questa popolazione<br />
veneziana predominantemente marittima. L’omaggio<br />
ritualistico del Doge e del patriarca a San Nicolò sug -<br />
gerisce che il San<strong>to</strong> stesso abbia probabilmente <strong>of</strong>ficia<strong>to</strong><br />
le celebrazioni iniziali dello <strong>Sposalizio</strong> col mare: fino<br />
al 1172 nel monastero si riunivano i cittadini per<br />
acclamare i nuovi Dogi, e per tut<strong>to</strong> il Rinascimen<strong>to</strong> fu<br />
usa<strong>to</strong> come un salone dei banchetti per i capitani<br />
generali al termine delle loro cariche al servizio del<br />
Doge. Soltan<strong>to</strong> nel corso dei secoli successivi, con<br />
l’espansione del terri<strong>to</strong>rio di Venezia, l’importanza del<br />
monastero come centro di grande significa<strong>to</strong> religioso e<br />
politico fu eclissata dal Palazzo del Doge e dalla basilica<br />
22<br />
di San Marco di recente costruzione. Ma grazie alla<br />
protezione dei marinai veneziani ed al patrocinio del<br />
Doge e del capitano generale, San Nicolò mantenne un<br />
equilibrio con San Marco, complementando le sue<br />
funzioni generali e mantenendo i rapporti con la<br />
popolazione in genere, che eresse il santuario in suo<br />
onore nella città.<br />
PRIMO CD<br />
Le processioni ed il viaggio sulla laguna<br />
Il Giorno dell’Ascensione inizia nel piazzale della<br />
basilica di San Marco, con la campana della basilica<br />
(brano 1). Dall’esterno della piazza emerge un corteo<br />
di tamburi 2, che annuncia l’arrivo del Doge e dei suoi<br />
ospiti; al corteo si uniscono, come descrit<strong>to</strong> da Lassels,<br />
le trombe d’argen<strong>to</strong>, che suonano la fanfara ‘Rotta’ 3<br />
scritta da Girolamo Fantini secondo il suo me<strong>to</strong>do<br />
teorico di esecuzione con la tromba. Le fanfare di<br />
Fantini emergono in diversi punti in questa incisione e<br />
rapprensentano il tipo di fanfara più ‘moderno’ che<br />
stava diventando di voga all’inizio del XVII secolo, al<br />
pos<strong>to</strong> delle opere di vecchio stampo trascritte prece -<br />
dentemente da Bendinelli. Quando il Doge è a bordo<br />
della galea, viene esegui<strong>to</strong> il grande madrigale Vieni,<br />
vieni Himeneo 4, compos<strong>to</strong> per due cori vocali e<br />
strumenti; il madrigale accoglie con solennità gli astanti<br />
e, come descrive Lassels, rende ‘Nettuno geloso di sen -<br />
tire il nome di Imeneo invoca<strong>to</strong> nel suo dominio’. Opera<br />
pubblicata postumamente nel 1590, il suo stile è tipico<br />
delle composizioni più tarde del famoso Andrea<br />
Gabrieli.<br />
La prima ‘canzone’ strumentale è di un altro famoso<br />
organista della basilica di San Marco, Gioseffo Guami, la<br />
cui abilità con gli strumenti ad arco viene definita da un<br />
contemporaneo come ‘straordinaria’. La sua nobile can -<br />
zone in ot<strong>to</strong> parti 5 è un’opera di al<strong>to</strong> livello e com -
prende un’armonia di insolita dolcezza e strutture<br />
intessute con grande abilità, incoraggiando allo stesso<br />
tempo gli esecu<strong>to</strong>ri del cantus di due cori opposti a<br />
produrre ornamentazioni pari a quelle già scritte.<br />
Mentre i musicisti stanno per eseguire il brano<br />
successivo, sul Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro, l’imbarcazione del Doge, i<br />
suona<strong>to</strong>ri di chitarrone eseguono un breve brano 6 del<br />
liutista Giovanni Kapsberger, det<strong>to</strong> in Italia Giovanni<br />
Geronimo Tedesco della Tiorba, tipico del nuovo stile di<br />
musica composta per strumenti ad arco pizzicati. <strong>Lo</strong><br />
splendido madrigale Cantiam di Dio 7 in dodici parti<br />
di Andrea Gabrieli è un’opera possente di considerevole<br />
grandiosità, di struttura predominantemente om<strong>of</strong>onica<br />
nelle sue due sezioni e contenente parti per tutte le<br />
dodici voci e gli strumenti. Cantiam di Dio loda Dio per<br />
la creazione del cielo, della terra e, naturalmente, del<br />
mare. I tamburi forniscono un breve interludio 8, e<br />
conducono ad un’opera più bellicosa, la canzone di<br />
Andrea Gabrieli La Battaglia 9, che il composi<strong>to</strong>re<br />
specifica dovrebbe essere eseguita da ot<strong>to</strong> strumenti a<br />
fia<strong>to</strong>. La tradizione di scrivere musica bellica era popo -<br />
lare nel XVI secolo: l’opera di Gabrieli rievoca com -<br />
posizioni precedenti come la canzone La bataille de<br />
Marignan di Clément Janequin e Bataglia taliana del<br />
fiammingo Hermann Werrekoren, scritta per celebrare<br />
la sconfitta dei Francesi alla Battaglia di Pavia. Tra gli<br />
interventi previsti delle trombe e le fanfare di battaglia<br />
Gabrieli include musica di finezza squisita.<br />
Giovanni Gabrieli, nipote di Andrea, fornisce un con -<br />
tras<strong>to</strong> musicale sublime con il suo splendido madrigale<br />
Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo bl in ot<strong>to</strong> parti, esegui<strong>to</strong> in questa<br />
incisione da due falsettisti e ricco accompagnamen<strong>to</strong><br />
d’archi. Pubblica<strong>to</strong> per la prima volta nel 1587, il<br />
madrigale si dimostrò particolarmente popolare e fu<br />
arrangia<strong>to</strong> sia come duet<strong>to</strong> per liuti che da Heinrich<br />
Schütz, alunno di Gabrieli, come parte del suo Psalmen<br />
23<br />
Davids (Salmi di Davide) (1619). Nella primavera<br />
veneta tradizionalmente umida, la sua melodia che<br />
canta le pene d’amore, un po’ erotica, deve aver<br />
suscita<strong>to</strong> il desiderio del bel tempo. La Folia bm, qui<br />
improvvisata su tre strumenti ad arco pizzicati secondo<br />
lo stile di Alessandro Piccinini, era appena arrivata in<br />
Italia dalla Spagna ed era particolarmente popolare.<br />
La Leona bn, il ti<strong>to</strong>lo della Canzone XIX di Cesario<br />
Gussago, si riferisce al leone di Venezia. La com -<br />
posizione di Gussago, composta per lo più da accordi, è<br />
estremamente attraente grazie all’interazione dei due<br />
cori opposti di strumenti. Il ti<strong>to</strong>lo fu probabilmente<br />
idea<strong>to</strong> da Gussago, o del suo edi<strong>to</strong>re, per vendere più<br />
copie dell’opera al pubblico di Venezia!<br />
Come La Folia, la Ciaccona era appena comparsa<br />
nella musica italiana nel primo XVII secolo: la sua popo -<br />
larità era tale che quasi tutti i composi<strong>to</strong>ri inclusero<br />
questa nuova forma musicale in numerosissime<br />
composizioni. Qui gli esecu<strong>to</strong>ri improvvisano su uno<br />
degli esempi più brevi della linea dei bassi bo.<br />
Il poderoso madrigale Udite, chiari e generosi figli<br />
bp in sedici parti, a doppio coro, di Giovanni Gabrieli è il<br />
pièce de résistance vocale delle celebrazioni civiche, con<br />
un tes<strong>to</strong> ricco di riferimenti alle figure mi<strong>to</strong>logiche<br />
nautiche con cui i Veneziani colti avevano certamente<br />
dimestichezza. Gabrieli compose l’opera per quat<strong>to</strong>rdici<br />
voci, sostenendole sot<strong>to</strong> con basso continuo e sopra con<br />
un solitario ‘cornet<strong>to</strong> mu<strong>to</strong>’. Gli ot<strong>to</strong> can<strong>to</strong>ri del primo<br />
coro assumono il ruolo dei Tri<strong>to</strong>ni, convocando i citta -<br />
dini di Adria ad ascoltare Poseidone, Re degli Oceani<br />
(qui Adria è un’allusione a Venezia, piut<strong>to</strong>s<strong>to</strong> che alla<br />
città tra le foci del Po e dell’Adige). Tri<strong>to</strong>ne era il figlio di<br />
Poseidone e abitava in un palazzo dora<strong>to</strong> sul fondo del<br />
mare. Il termine ‘gradita’ (letteralmente ‘cavalli bian -<br />
chi’) si riferisce al modo in cui Tri<strong>to</strong>ne era soli<strong>to</strong> caval -<br />
care gli ippocampi o altri mostri marini. Secondo la
mi<strong>to</strong>logia, i Tri<strong>to</strong>ni (figure mitiche raffigurate con corpo<br />
umano e appendici pisciformi), al comando di Posei -<br />
done, suonavano una tromba fatta di conchiglia e<br />
calmavano così le onde. Il secondo coro interpreta il<br />
ruolo delle Sirene. Nella mi<strong>to</strong>logia queste erano le ninfe<br />
marine che avevano il potere di ammaliare tutti coloro<br />
che ne sentivano il can<strong>to</strong>. Ulisse evitò le loro malie<br />
facendosi legare all’albero maestro della sua nave e<br />
mettendo cera nelle orecchie dei compagni. Quando<br />
Giasone e gli Argonauti passarano vicino alle Sirene, il<br />
can<strong>to</strong> di queste fu vano e supera<strong>to</strong> dal can<strong>to</strong> di Orfeo e<br />
dalla musica della sua lira. Non riuscendo più ad<br />
ammaliare i naviga<strong>to</strong>ri col loro can<strong>to</strong>, le Sirene si tuf -<br />
farono in mare e si trasformarono in rocce. Amfitrite,<br />
una delle cinquanta Nereidi (un’altra era Teti, madre di<br />
Achille), era la madre di Tri<strong>to</strong>ne. Il madrigale di Gabrieli<br />
è una magnifica composizione di grandi proporzioni,<br />
ricca di decorazioni verbali e di contrasti drammatici,<br />
che raggiunge l’apice in uno splendido coro finale in<br />
sedici parti che incita i Veneziani a mostrare forza e<br />
coraggio.<br />
Prima che il Doge raggiunga la posizione nella laguna<br />
da dove lancia l’anello nuziale in mare, gli strumentisti<br />
eseguono l’eccellente Canzone La Veneziana bq di<br />
<strong>Lo</strong>dovico da Viadana. Parte di una raccolta di canzoni<br />
dedicate a diverse città italiane, questa opera riesce<br />
splendidamente a combinare una vivace e innovativa<br />
apertura con musica solenne, riassumendo abilmente<br />
due aspetti contrastanti di Venezia. Come la cerimonia<br />
civile dello <strong>Sposalizio</strong> volge al termine, i trombettieri<br />
eseguono la fanfara Imperiale prima br, e si uniscono<br />
a loro i tamburi che guidano il corteo sulla laguna verso<br />
il Lido di Venezia.<br />
24<br />
SECONDO CD<br />
La Messa Solenne nella chiesa di San Nicolò<br />
‘… E così [il Doge] ri<strong>to</strong>rna alla Chiesa di San Nicolò<br />
in Lido … dove assiste alla Messa solenne con il<br />
Sena<strong>to</strong>’ … Mentre la sequenza della musica per le<br />
cerimonie civili di <strong>Lo</strong> <strong>Sposalizio</strong> deve essere in gran<br />
parte putativa, la forma per la musica usata durante la<br />
celebrazione della Messa solenne è più chiaramente<br />
documentata. Le parti musicali principali vengono<br />
presentate qui: per includere soltan<strong>to</strong> la messa com -<br />
pleta sarebbero state necessari du CD. La cerimonia<br />
viene annunciata dalla campana di San Nicolò 1, che<br />
precede l’inizio della celebrazione della Messa.<br />
All’esterno della chiesa, i trombettieri suonano una<br />
fanfara 2 per annunciare l’arrivo del Doge.<br />
Passando all’interno della chiesa, il primo elemen<strong>to</strong><br />
musicale della messa è il magnifico Kyrie 3 in dodici<br />
parti di Giovanni Gabrieli. La sezione iniziale vede un<br />
solitario tenore al di sopra di quattro tromboni in<br />
musica straordinariamente solenne. Nel ‘Christe’ si<br />
unisce a questi un coro più al<strong>to</strong> di strumenti in una<br />
composizione che è più personale e penitenziale. La<br />
terza parte aggiunge la ‘Capella’ (coro di tutti) ai due<br />
cori esistenti di solisti e strumenti, creando motivi<br />
sontuosi in dodici parti. L’ambiente straordinario in<br />
sedici parti del Gloria 4 di Andrea Gabrieli, scrit<strong>to</strong><br />
per quattro cori, è un brano parimenti imponente.<br />
Tre dei cori sono di voci e strumenti solisti: il quar<strong>to</strong> è<br />
la ‘Capella’ per tutti. Data la lunghezza del tes<strong>to</strong>,<br />
l’adattamen<strong>to</strong> in gran parte sillabico di Gabrieli funziona<br />
mol<strong>to</strong> bene, con brani per i cori alternanti in contras<strong>to</strong><br />
con le possenti colonne sonore quando tutti e quattro i<br />
cori cantano insieme. Il ‘Cum Sanc<strong>to</strong> Spiritu’ finale<br />
danza nel suo metro triplo recentemente scoper<strong>to</strong>.
Una breve In<strong>to</strong>natione 5 all’organo introduce la<br />
meditabonda Canzon per ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni 6 di Tiburtio<br />
Massaino: un’altra composizione straordinaria che<br />
presenta il suono nobile di ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni. Le sonorità<br />
risultanti sono straordinarie e mostrano non solo la<br />
potenza di un ensemble di ques<strong>to</strong> tipo quando suona<br />
con intensità forte, ma dimostra anche il suono<br />
sorprendentemente intimo degli strumenti quando<br />
vengo suonati con intensità tenue. Allora il ruolo del<br />
can<strong>to</strong> fermo era considerevole nelle cerimonie religiose:<br />
in questa raccolta presentiamo il Sursum corda con la<br />
sua Prefazione speciale per l’Ascensione 7. Segue lo<br />
straordinario Sanctus 8 in dodici parti di Giovanni<br />
Gabrieli, con un’orchestrazione pari a quella del Kyrie.<br />
Ancora una volta, la sonorità e il timbro vengono usati in<br />
pieno, i cieli eterei sono in contras<strong>to</strong> con l’umile terra, e<br />
gli ‘Hosanna’ danzano pieni di gioia.<br />
Prima del mottet<strong>to</strong> della Comunione, un’altra<br />
In<strong>to</strong>natione 9 di Andrea Gabrieli viene eseguita<br />
all’organo e conduce al meraviglioso Christe, adoramus<br />
te bl di Claudio Monteverdi, con il sot<strong>to</strong>ti<strong>to</strong>lo ‘Nella<br />
Elevatione di N. Signore’. Qui il composi<strong>to</strong>re mostra la<br />
sua maestria e crea un capolavoro in miniatura: la parte<br />
iniziale è per lo più in stile om<strong>of</strong>onico, in contras<strong>to</strong> con<br />
il crescente cromaticismo di ‘quia per Sanctam Crucem<br />
tuam’ ed il fraseggio lamen<strong>to</strong>so e supplichevole del<br />
‘redemisti mundum’ per voce solista.<br />
Chiude la cerimonia la sublime Sonata XX bm di<br />
Giovanni Gabrieli. Scritta per ventidue strumenti e basso<br />
continuo, eseguita in cinque cori separati, questa è la<br />
composizione strumentale più grande del composi<strong>to</strong>re.<br />
L’abilità di Gabrieli nel maneggiare il grande gruppo<br />
vocale e strumentale mostra la sua assoluta maestria in<br />
ques<strong>to</strong> campo. Ciascun coro viene introdot<strong>to</strong> separata -<br />
25<br />
mente e ha un carattere tut<strong>to</strong> suo: il coro iniziale in sei<br />
parti presenta una calma solennità con una melodia<br />
crescente gentilmente punteggiata, ed un motivo calante<br />
contrastante comprendente coppie di note adiacenti. Il<br />
secondo coro entra con il ritmo tradizionale della can -<br />
zone dattilica (lungo, breve, breve). Il terzo coro è di<br />
strumenti a <strong>to</strong>no più basso, da<strong>to</strong> qui a quattro tromboni<br />
(Gabrieli specifica la strumentazione soltan<strong>to</strong> per tre<br />
delle linee strumentali), ed è segui<strong>to</strong> da un quar<strong>to</strong> coro<br />
con partitura più leggera, che echeggia il secondo coro<br />
in stile e tessitura. Il quin<strong>to</strong> coro è tratta<strong>to</strong> diversamente,<br />
con brani più vivaci e più attivi, che si prestano per gli<br />
strumenti ad arco. Soltan<strong>to</strong> dopo qualche minu<strong>to</strong><br />
sentiamo il primo tutti sontuoso, prima silenziosa -<br />
mente, come se ‘testasse le acque’, e poi dopo alcune<br />
battute con maggiore enfasi. Gabrieli passa quindi ad<br />
una sezione meno formale, ricca di diverse com -<br />
binazioni di cori e occasionalmente combinando tutti e<br />
cinque i cori. La durata di questi dialoghi diventa più<br />
breve e improvvisamente, come se non potesse più<br />
attendere, un al<strong>to</strong> trombone esplode in un ritmo<br />
jazzistico selvaggiamente esultante. A ques<strong>to</strong> segnale<br />
tutte le voci e gli strumenti emet<strong>to</strong>no un poderoso<br />
blocco sonoro. Ma Gabrieli non dà sfogo a tut<strong>to</strong> il suo<br />
impe<strong>to</strong> a ques<strong>to</strong> pun<strong>to</strong>. Ri<strong>to</strong>rna ad una breve sezione di<br />
dialogo intercorale, il coro di archi si dirama quindi con<br />
una sezione a colori cupi meravigliosamente esplorativa<br />
in un metro triplo recentemente scoper<strong>to</strong>. Eventual -<br />
mente tut<strong>to</strong> ri<strong>to</strong>rna al normale e al metro duplo con -<br />
venzionale precedente; ciascun coro a turno adotta il<br />
nuovo metro triplo elegantemente digni<strong>to</strong>so, con un<br />
crescendo graduale inevitabile. Un riposo per tutti gli<br />
strumenti ha soltan<strong>to</strong> lo scopo di accentuare lo<br />
straordinario potere delle forze combinate in un’altra
monumentale colonna solora e, mentre la sonata volge<br />
al termine, ciascuno strumen<strong>to</strong> a turno celebra con la<br />
sua fanfara, concludendo una delle più straordinarie<br />
composizioni strumentali dell’epoca.<br />
Devised by ROBERT KING with CLIFFORD BARTLETT<br />
Venetian location consultant PATRICIA LIANI<br />
Organ technician SIMON NEAL<br />
Pitch: A = 440Hz Temperament: quarter comma mean<strong>to</strong>ne<br />
26<br />
Mentre il Doge esce dalla chiesa, i valletti aprono le<br />
grandi porte occidentali. All’uscita dalla chiesa viene<br />
accol<strong>to</strong> dallo straordinario scampanio delle campane di<br />
Venezia bn che festeggiano ques<strong>to</strong> illustre sposalizio.<br />
ROBERT KING © 1998<br />
Trad GIANFRANCA SHEPHEARD<br />
Instrumental and choral music sourced by CLIFFORD BARTLETT (King’s Music)<br />
Trumpet fanfares by DAVID STAFF<br />
Chitarrone interludes by DAVID MILLER<br />
Drum processions by CHARLES FULLBROOK<br />
Performing editions by ROBERT KING<br />
Recorded in St Jude-on-<strong>the</strong>-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, <strong>Lo</strong>ndon, on 22–25 February 1998<br />
Church bells recorded live in <strong>Venice</strong>, Easter 1998<br />
Recording Engineer PHILIP HOBBS<br />
Recording Producer BEN TURNER<br />
Post-production Assistant JULIA THOMAS (Finesplice)<br />
Cover Design PETER SLOPER<br />
Executive Producer SIMON PERRY<br />
P Hyperion Records Limited, <strong>Lo</strong>ndon, 1998<br />
C Hyperion Records Limited, <strong>Lo</strong>ndon, 2012<br />
(Originally issued on Hyperion CDA67048)<br />
Front illustration: Return <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bucin<strong>to</strong>ro on Ascension Day by An<strong>to</strong>nio Canalet<strong>to</strong> (1697–1768)<br />
Aldo Crespi Collection, Milan, Italy / <strong>The</strong> Bridgeman Art Library, <strong>Lo</strong>ndon / New York<br />
Si vous souhaitez de plus amples détails sur ces enregistrements, et sur les nombreuses autres publications du label Hyperion, veuillez nous<br />
écrire à Hyperion Records Ltd, PO Box 25, <strong>Lo</strong>ndon SE9 1AX, England, ou nous contacter par courrier électronique à info@hyperionrecords.co.uk,<br />
et nous serons ravis de vous faire parvenir notre catalogue gratuitement.<br />
Le catalogue Hypérion est également accessible sur Internet : www.hyperion-records.co.uk
Sources and Editions<br />
COMPACT DISC 1<br />
2 Drums (traditional)<br />
3 Fanfare Rotta (from Girolamo Fantini Modo per imparare a<br />
sonare di tromba …, Frankfurt, 1638)<br />
4 A Gabrieli: Vieni, vieni Himeneo (from Dialoghi musicali de<br />
diversi eccelentissimi au<strong>to</strong>ri, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1590)<br />
5 Guami: Canzona XXIV (from Canzoni per sonare con ogni sorte<br />
di stromente … novamente raccolte da diversi<br />
eccellentissimi musici. Libro primo, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1608)<br />
6 Kapsberger: Kapsberger (from Libro Quar<strong>to</strong> d’intavolatura di<br />
Chitarrone, Rome, 1640)<br />
7 A Gabrieli: Cantiam di Dio (from Dialoghi musicali de diversi<br />
eccelentissimi au<strong>to</strong>ri, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1590)<br />
8 Drums (traditional)<br />
9 A Gabrieli: La Battaglia (from Dialoghi musicali de diversi<br />
eccelentissimi au<strong>to</strong>ri, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1590)<br />
bl G Gabrieli: Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo (from Concerti di Andrea et di<br />
Giovanni Gabrieli … Continenti Musica di Chiesa,<br />
madrigali, & altro, per voci & stromenti, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1587)<br />
bm after Piccinini: Variazioni sopra La Folia (‘Partite variate sopra la<br />
folia aria Romanesca’ from Intavolatura di Liu<strong>to</strong> et di<br />
Chitarrone, Libro Primo, Bologna, 1623)<br />
bn Gussago: La Leona (Sonate a 4. 6. 8 con alcuni Concerti a ot<strong>to</strong><br />
con le sue sinfonie, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1608)<br />
bo La Ciaccona (improvised after 17th-century Italian examples)<br />
bp G Gabrieli: Udite, chiari et generosi figli (MS, Landesbiblio<strong>the</strong>k<br />
der Stadt Kassel, 20MSMus.57h)<br />
bq Viadana: La Veneziana (Sinfonie musicali, Op 18, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1610)<br />
br Fanfare Imperiale prima (from Girolamo Fantini Modo per<br />
imparare a sonare di tromba, Frankfurt, 1638); drums<br />
(traditional)<br />
27<br />
COMPACT DISC 2<br />
2 Fanfare Imperiale seconda (from Fantini Modo per imparare a<br />
sonare di tromba, Frankfurt, 1638)<br />
3 G Gabrieli: Kyrie (from Symphoniae sacrae … liber secundus,<br />
<strong>Venice</strong>, 1615)<br />
4 A Gabrieli: Gloria (from Concerti di Andrea et di Giovanni<br />
Gabrieli … Continenti Musica di Chiesa, madrigali, & altro,<br />
per voci & stromenti Musicali, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1587)<br />
5 A Gabrieli: In<strong>to</strong>natione Settimo <strong>to</strong>no (from In<strong>to</strong>nationi<br />
d’organo … libro primo, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1593)<br />
6 Massaino: Canzon per ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni (from Canzoni per sonare<br />
con ogni sorte de stromenti, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1608)<br />
8 G Gabrieli: Sanctus (from Symphoniae sacrae … liber<br />
secundus, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1615<br />
9 A Gabrieli: In<strong>to</strong>natione Primo <strong>to</strong>no (from In<strong>to</strong>nationi<br />
d’organo … libro primo, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1593)<br />
bl Monteverdi: Christe, adoramus te (from Libro primo de motetti<br />
in lode d’Iddio nostro Signore … di Giulio Cesare Bianchi.<br />
Con un altro a cinque, e tre a sei del sig. Claudio<br />
Monteverde, <strong>Venice</strong>, 1620)<br />
bm G Gabrieli: Sonata XX (from Canzoni et sonate per sonar con<br />
ogni sorte de instrumente, con il basso per l’organo, <strong>Venice</strong>,<br />
1615)<br />
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re-recording, broadcasting, or public performance <strong>of</strong> this or any o<strong>the</strong>r Hyperion recording will constitute an infringement <strong>of</strong><br />
copyright. Applications for a public performance licence should be sent <strong>to</strong> Phonographic Performance Ltd, 1 Upper James Street,<br />
<strong>Lo</strong>ndon W1F 9DE
COMPACT DISC 1 – 47‘28<br />
<strong>The</strong> processions and journey across <strong>the</strong> lagoon<br />
1 Single <strong>to</strong>lling bell <strong>of</strong> San Marco ......................................................................... [0'51]<br />
2 Drums ............................................................................................................. [0'48]<br />
3 Rotta Trumpet fanfare ANONYMOUS ........................................................................ [0'52]<br />
4 Vieni, vieni Himeneo Madrigal a 8 ANDREA GABRIELI (c1510–1586) .............................. [2'25]<br />
5 Canzona XXIV a 8 GIOSEFFO GUAMI (c1540–1611) ...................................................... [3'35]<br />
6 Kapsberger GIOVANNI GIROLAMO KAPSBERGER (c1580–1651) .......................................... [1'26]<br />
7 Cantiam di Dio Madrigal a 12 ANDREA GABRIELI ....................................................... [6'35]<br />
8 Drums ............................................................................................................. [0'52]<br />
9 La Battaglia Canzona ANDREA GABRIELI .................................................................. [6'51]<br />
bl Lie<strong>to</strong> godea sedendo Madrigal a 8 GIOVANNI GABRIELI (c1554/7–1612) .......................... [4'36]<br />
bm Variazioni sopra La Folia after ALESSANDRO PICCININI (1566–c1638) ............................. [1'09]<br />
bn La Leona Canzon XIX a 8 CESARIO GUSSAGO (fl1599–1612) .......................................... [2'39]<br />
bo Variazione sopra La Ciaccona after 17th-century Italian examples ............................ [1'00]<br />
bp Udite, chiari e generosi figli Madrigal a 16 GIOVANNI GABRIELI .................................. [8'05]<br />
bq La Veneziana Canzona LODOVICO VIADANA (c1560–1627) ............................................. [3'13]<br />
br Imperiale prima Trumpet fanfare and drums ANONYMOUS ........................................ [2'23]<br />
COMPACT DISC 2 – 41‘43<br />
<strong>The</strong> solemn Mass held in San Nicolò<br />
1 Tolling church bell ........................................................................................... [1'15]<br />
2 Imperiale seconda Trumpet fanfare ANONYMOUS ..................................................... [1'24]<br />
3 Kyrie a 12 GIOVANNI GABRIELI ................................................................................ [7'10]<br />
4 Gloria a 16 ANDREA GABRIELI ................................................................................ [4'44]<br />
5 In<strong>to</strong>natione Settimo <strong>to</strong>no ANDREA GABRIELI ............................................................ [1'04]<br />
6 Canzon per ot<strong>to</strong> tromboni TIBURTIO MASSAINO (c1550–1609) ..................................... [4'15]<br />
7 Sursum corda plainsong .................................................................................... [2'05]<br />
8 Sanctus a 12 GIOVANNI GABRIELI ............................................................................ [3'51]<br />
9 In<strong>to</strong>natione Primo <strong>to</strong>no ANDREA GABRIELI .............................................................. [1'00]<br />
bl Christe, adoramus te Motet a 5 CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI (1567–1643) ............................. [3'35]<br />
bm Sonata XX a 22 GIOVANNI GABRIELI ......................................................................... [8'59]<br />
bn <strong>The</strong> bells <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong> ........................................................................................... [2'15]<br />
CDD22072
THE KING’S CONSORT Hyperion<br />
ROBERT KING CDD22072 2C D<br />
LO SPOSALIZIO<br />
THE WEDDING OF VENICE TO THE SEA<br />
NOTES EN FRANÇAIS + CON NOTE IN ITALIANO<br />
‘An exceptional recorded event. Ravishing music. A very fine achievement all round’ (Gramophone)<br />
LO SPOSALIZIO<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wedding</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venice</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sea</strong><br />
as it might have been celebrated on Ascension Day, c1600<br />
music by Giovanni and Andrea Gabrieli,<br />
Gussago, Guami, Viadana, Massaino, Kapsberger and Monteverdi<br />
Disc One THE PROCESSIONS AND JOURNEY ACROSS THE LAGOON<br />
Disc Two THE SOLEMN MASS HELD IN SAN NICOLÒ<br />
‘Glorious music, gloriously performed’ (Classic CD)<br />
‘<strong>The</strong> music is glorious, <strong>the</strong> performances exemplary, <strong>the</strong> sense <strong>of</strong> occasion overwhelming … ano<strong>the</strong>r marvellous concept from<br />
Robert King and his redoutable consort, here breathtakingly recreating <strong>the</strong> celebrations which would have taken place on Ascension<br />
Day circa 1600. Glitteringly recorded and a superb booklet’ (<strong>The</strong> Sunday Times)<br />
THE CHOIR OF THE KING’S CONSORT<br />
countertenor James Bowman, Robin Blaze, Robert Harre-Jones, Charles Humphries, Bernhard Landauer, Peter Nardone, Richard Wyn Roberts<br />
tenor Andrew Carwood, Charles Daniels, Duncan Mackenzie, Rodrigo del Pozo, Angus Smith, Paul Tindall, Mat<strong>the</strong>w Vine<br />
bari<strong>to</strong>ne Stephen Charlesworth, Julian Clarkson, Robert Evans, Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Foster, Tom Guthrie, Damian O’Keeffe, Charles Pott<br />
bass Simon Birchall, Robert MacDonald, Richard Savage<br />
THE KING’S CONSORT<br />
violin Simon Jones, Rebecca Miles viola Jane Rogers, Ka<strong>the</strong>rine McGillivray cello Jane Coe, Ka<strong>the</strong>rine Sharman, Imogen Seth-Smith<br />
violone Mark Levy chitarrone David Miller, William Carter, Lynda Sayce, Elizabeth Kenny guitar William Carter<br />
organ James O’Donnell, James Johns<strong>to</strong>ne, Gary Cooper drum Charles Fullbrook, Peter Beament, George Lawn, William <strong>Lo</strong>ckhart, Michael Skinner<br />
fanfare trumpet David Staff, Adrian Woodward, Susan Addison, Abigail Newman, Tom Lees<br />
cornett Jeremy West, David Staff, Adrian Woodward, <strong>The</strong>resa Caudle al<strong>to</strong> sackbut Susan Addison, Adam Woolf<br />
tenor sackbut Susan Addison, Richard Cheetham, Philip Dale, Mark Hor<strong>to</strong>n, Tom Lees, Abigail Newman, Paul Nieman, Adam Woolf<br />
bass sackbut Adrian France, Patrick Jackman, Anthony Leggett, Andrew Harwood-White<br />
RObERT KING conduc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
www.hyperion-records.co.uk<br />
HYPERION RECORDS LIMITED . LONDON . ENGLAND<br />
2 compact discs<br />
CDD22072<br />
Duration 89'11<br />
DDD<br />
dyad<br />
MADE IN ENGLAND<br />
2C D<br />
LO SPOSALIZIO<br />
THE WEDDING OF VENICE TO THE SEA<br />
THE KING’S CONSORT Hyperion<br />
ROBERT KING CDD22072
2 C O M P A C T D I S C S for <strong>the</strong> price <strong>of</strong> one