In spite of its noble past, the Italian salterio is almost unknown today. But hundreds of compositions for virtuosos and laymen demonstrate the interest of the upper classes in this instrument. In 1749 the salterio was banished from the church by order of Pope Benedict XIV. Nevertheless, in the second half of the century, it came into fashion in sacred repertoire and was played especially in nunneries. The present recording was recorded with a salterio built in 1725 by Michele Barbi. The playing practice is based on research by Franziska Fleischanderl on the Italian salterio in the 18th century. For this reason, the recording represents an important scientific contribution to the subject.

In the Lamentations for Holy Week for obbligato psaltery, soprano and basso continuo, coming from the Benedictine monastery of San Severio (Apulia), we find a fine example of Italian Rococo, full of colourful textures and unusual sounds, masterly rendered by the soprano Miriam Feuersinger and the psaltery specialist, Franziska Fleischanderl.