Frottole

Renaissance Music from the Courts of Mantua and Ferrara
Circa 1500 Ensemble
Chandos Chaconne 0524

Contents:

  1. Cara: Mal un muta per effecto (barzelletta)
  2. Tromboncino: Vale diva, vale in pace (barzelletta)
  3. Anon: Saltarello, Baxela un tratto (instrumental dance)
  4. Cara: Bona dies, bona sera (barzelletta)
  5. Spinacino: Ricercare (lute)
  6. Cara: O mia cieca e dura sorte (barzelletta)
  7. Anon: Calata (lute)
  8. Cara: Aimè, ch'io moro (strambotto)
  9. Tromboncino: Poi che volse la mia stella (barzelletta)
  10. Diomedes: Dolores mortis (lauda)
  11. Tromboncino: Virgine bella (lauda)
  12. Anon: Se mai per maraveglia (capitolo)
  13. Anon: Saltarello, El marchese di Saluzzo (instrumental dance)
  14. Romano: Cantus cum tenor (instrumental duo)
  15. Anon: Chui dicese non l'amare (frottola)
  16. Tromboncino: Ostinato vo' seguire (barzelletta)
  17. Anon: Pavana, La cornetta (instrumental dance)
  18. Cara: Hor vendut'ho la speranza (barzelletta)

Performers: Emily Van Evera (soprano), Nancy Hadden (flute), Erin Headley (viol, lirone), Christopher Wilson (lute, guitar), Robert Meunier (lute)

Playing time: 55'

Recording date: September 1983

This program is made up primarily of frottole, a short-lived Italian song style, based on several different poetic forms (e.g. barzelletta, strambotto, oda, capitolo, sonnet, canzone).

The two most important Italian composers in this style were Bartolomeo Tromboncino (c.1470-c.1535) who had a chaotic career in both Mantua & Ferrara and Marchetto Cara (1465-1525) who spent his working life in Mantua.

Other composers represented on the recording are: Francesco Spinacino (fl.c.1507) composer of the earliest published lute music, Diomedes (fl.c.1508), and Eustachio Romano (fl.c.1500-1525).

Other recordings by Circa 1500:

O Lusitano
Portuguese vilancetes, cantigas and romances
Gérard Lesne / Circa 1500
Virgin Veritas 59071
Music from the Spanish Kingdoms
Circa 1500 Ensemble
CRD 3447
The Flower of all Ships
Tudor Court Music from the Time of the Mary Rose
Circa 1500 Ensemble
CRD 3448
New Fashions
Cries & Ballads of London
Circa 1500 Ensemble - Nancy Hadden
CRD 3487
A Handefull of Pleasant Delites
Elizabethan Ballads & Dances
Circa 1500 Ensemble - Nancy Hadden
AS&V Gaudeamus 163

And a recording by a similar ensemble:

Musica Mediterranea
Kithara Ensemble
Chandos Chaconne 0562

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Todd M. McComb