The Feast of San Rocco, Venice 1608

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This two-CD set has the same aim as the Gabrieli Consort & Players' "Music for San Rocco" disc on DG--the speculative recreation of a spectacular concert at Venice's Scuola di San Rocco in 1608. Indeed, both recordings include several of the same works, such as Gabrieli's seven-choir Magnificat and his Sonata for three violins. However, the overlap is not great, and both performances are so good that there's no way to choose between them. Roland Wilson, with two discs at his disposal, naturally includes more music; among the highlights are beautiful solo motets by Alessandro Grandi and two gorgeous sonatas (for violin solo and violin/cornett duo) by G. P. Cima. --Matthew Westphal

Tracks:

Toccata - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Buccinate in neomenia tuba a 19 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Canzon XVII a 12 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Heu mihi - Dialogo a 4 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Sonata per il violino, cornetto e violone - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Dulcis Jesu patris imago Sonata con voce a 20: Dulcis Jesu patris imago - Sonata con voce a 20 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
O quam tu pulchra es - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Canzon in echo a 12 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Timor et tremor a 6 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Sonata per il cornetto e trombone - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Sonata con 3 violini - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Cantemus Domino - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Sonata XIX a 15 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
In ecclesiis a 14 - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO

Tracks:

Canzon V a 7 - Gabrieli
Jubilate Deo a 10 - Gabrieli
Salvum me fac, Deus - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Sonata XVIII a 14 - Gabrieli
Cantate Domino a 8 - Gabrieli
Sonata per il violino e violone - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Canzon primi toni a 10 - Gabrieli
Misericordia tua Domine a 12 - Gabrieli
Canzon X a 8 - Gabrieli
O sacrum convivium - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Toccata primi toni - Gabrieli
Magnificat a 33 - Gabrieli
Benedictus es Dominus a 8 - Gabrieli
Salve, o Regina - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO
Capriccio detto svegliatoio - FEAST OF SAN ROCCO

Amazon.com

This two-CD set has the same aim as the Gabrieli Consort & Players' "Music for San Rocco" disc on DG--the speculative recreation of a spectacular concert at Venice's Scuola di San Rocco in 1608. Indeed, both recordings include several of the same works, such as Gabrieli's seven-choir Magnificat and his Sonata for three violins. However, the overlap is not great, and both performances are so good that there's no way to choose between them. Roland Wilson, with two discs at his disposal, naturally includes more music; among the highlights are beautiful solo motets by Alessandro Grandi and two gorgeous sonatas (for violin solo and violin/cornett duo) by G. P. Cima. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

underrated recording.......2004-02-21

Just some comments on this recording: The Musica Fiata Koeln sound is pretty close to the sound I love in late renaissance sacred music. The brass players don't all constantly blend together as one homogeneous background sound; instead individual lines come in and out naturally helping to move the music along. I personally enjoy David Cordier's falsetto voice because of its distinct timbre adding flavor to the sound; just as I like the nasal timbre of the cornettos distinguishing themselves from the sackbutts.

The Cima pieces are all beautiful idyllic pieces and played with religious sincerely (the playing reminds me very much of Andrew Parrot's Monteverdi 1610 Vesper recording). A nice touch is the inclusion of a Gabrieli piece played on solo organ. Quite nice to hear the organ shine after it has been used as continuo for most of the recording.

I highly recommend this recording especially if you are into the multi-choral one voice per part concept or if you like the sound of Musica Fiata Koeln. Incidently Roland Wilson is a famous cornetto maker; 6 of the 9 cornettists on this recording are playing his instruments.

Some flawed performances.......2003-06-18

This is a fascinating set of two discs which sets out to recapture the sound of the Feast of San Rocco as it might have been celebrated in Venice in 1608. There's plenty of Gabrieli, Grandi and Cima with lesser known names like Barbarino and Castaldi -- the rather better known Monteverdi also makes an appearance in 'Salve, o regina'.

I'm not acquainted with the Gabrieli Consort's disc canvassing the same festival, but I have to say that this is a rather uneven set of discs. The central idea -- massive festival music -- is well realised. There are also some fine moments in the singing and playing including the Gabrieli sonata for three violins, Grandi's 'Salvum me' (superbly sung by Harry van der Kamp); the best track of these discs, conceptually and musically, is Gabrieli's Sonata XVIII a 14 which has an impressive architecture. But there is also some fairly hideous singing (most of it from David Cordier who sounds dreadful in In ecclesiis) and some out of tune brass playing which spoils some of the tracks. I keep coming back to these discs, though, almost in spite of myself -- the music is just that impressive.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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