The influential early 17th century Italian composer Stefano Bernardi wrote his Motetti in Cantilena in his native Verona in 1613, following a period of study and work in Rome. These world premiere recordings are performed on this CD by Ensemble Cantimbanco and its musical director Roberto Balconi.

Italian priest, composer and music theorist, Stefano Bernardi was born in Verona in 1577 and was maestro di cappella at the city’s cathedral from 1611 to 1622. He later moved to Salzburg, where he was responsible for the music at the Salzburg Cathedral and composed a Te Deum for 12 choirs which was performed at the cathedral's consecration in 1628.

Bernardi's career spanned the transition from late Renaissance music to early Baroque, with some of his works in the polyphonic style of Palestrina, and others in the new concertato style. He composed both sacred and secular music, including several masses and motets, as well as sinfonias and three books of madrigals. He also wrote a treatise on counterpoint which was published in 1615.

Contents:
1. Sonata sesta in sinfonia
2. Nativitas gloriosae
3. Benedictus Deus
4. Estote fortes
5. O pretiosum
6. Sonata terza
7. Haec Dies
8. Gaudeamus omnes
9. Super omnia
10. Exultate iusti
11. Sonata quarta
12. Voce mea
13. Isti sunt
14. Hodie Christus
15. Invocavi
16. Sonata quinta
17. In te Domine
18. Viri Sancti
19. Anima nostra
20. Salvum me fac
21. Sonata seconda
22. Paratum cor meum
23. Cum jucunditate
24. Osculetur me
25. Gustate et videte
26. Sonata prima