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Merulo: Missa Virginis Mariae ‘In Annuntiatione Domini’

£13.60

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Label: Tactus

Cat No: TC533801

Barcode: 8007194102253

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Release Date: 1st March 2010

Works

Merulo, Claudio

Missa Virginis Mariae 'In nnnuntiatione Domini'

Artists

Roberto Loreggian (organ)
Schola Gregoriana ‘Scriptoria’

Conductor

Nicola M Bellinazzo

Works

Merulo, Claudio

Missa Virginis Mariae 'In nnnuntiatione Domini'

Artists

Roberto Loreggian (organ)
Schola Gregoriana ‘Scriptoria’

Conductor

Nicola M Bellinazzo

About

Of particular interest among Merulo’s works for organ are the two Libri di toccate. In the Primo libro, the structure consists of a fugal piece framed by two toccata-like parts. In the Libro secondo, the clearly virtuosic elements of the toccata, such as quick passages and trills, tend to transmigrate within the fugal structure. The contemplative severity of the fugue thus assumes the brilliant musical connotations typical of the toccata. In Merulo’s hands, the toccata already takes on the formal peculiarities which characterize it in its later development, especially in the alternation with the fugue.

The Masses reveal the composer’s great skill in handling the plain chant, with highly developed versicles enriched by embellishments and divisions. Such a form originated from the practice of alternating the chant of the choir with an instrumental interlude from the organ.

From the earliest days of the Christian liturgy, the chant had alternated between two choirs, following the practice of antiphony. Now the novelty lay in the fact that the organ, substituting the alternating choir, had its own liturgical personality. This practice of substituting the chant of one of the two choirs with elaborations on the organ was in turn rooted in the 14th century (the Faenza codex), and we find testimony to its use throughout the entire renaissance period.

The alternatim, as this liturgical practice was commonly called, concerned only the chant of the Ordinarium Missæ (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and possibly the Credo) rather than the Proprium Missæ (Introito, Graduale, Alleluia, Offertorio and Communio, the texts of which varied), which remained the duty of the choir and was intoned on the Gregorian melody.

Contents:
- Toccata Seconda del V tono (dal 2' Libro di Toccate, Roma 1604)
- Vultum tuum (Introito)
- Kyrie: alternatim
- Gloria: alternatim
- Tollite portas (Graduale)
- Toccata Ottava (da Intavolature di Torino. Raccolta Giordano Vol.11)
- Diffusa est gratia (Alleluja)
- Ave Maria (Offertorio)
- Sanctus: alternatim
- Agnus Dei: alternatim
- Ecce virgo (Communio)
- Toccata Prima del V Tono (dal 2' Libra di Toccate, Roma 1604)