Reissued in Tactus 580670
Performers: Sergio Vartolo (harpsichord CD1, CD2, CD3#1-8; organ, CD3#9), ? Gloria Moretti (un-named soprano, sung arias opening tracks CD2#5-6, CD3#1,6-7)
Instruments: Harpsichord (Barthêlêmy Formentelli; copy of contemporary instrument, Rezzonico Venezia); Organ (Evangeli di Baldassarre Malamini, 1598 - Basilica di S. Petronio, Bologna)
Playing time: 197'
Recording date: March 1987
This is Frescobaldi's third keyboard publication, and his most famous, it was revised and printed several times, first in 1615 and most recently in 1637 with the inclusion of a great deal of new material in the Agguinta. The previous publications were more old-fashioned in conception, namely Il primo libro delle fantasie a quattro (1608) & Recercari et canzoni franzese fatte sopra diversi oblighi in partitura (1615). Thus the present book first shows Frescobaldi's ground-breaking style, in which he would combine the techniques of the various keyboard schools around Italy with a new sense of rhetorical freedom to write the great toccatas & partitas.
The style of playing here is usually relaxed, with aria variations worked through quite leisurely, but with more punch to the few dances.
Other recordings in this series, each of which consists of a complete publication:
And another recording by the present performer:
Finally, a significant survey devoted to Frescobaldi's Neapolitan contempoary, Giovanni Maria Trabaci (c.1575-1647), by the present performer:
To purchasing information for this disc.
To FAQ references to this recording.
To FAQ CD index page.
Todd M. McComb