Title - Stradella Mottetti
Artist - Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano continue their exploration of 17th century Italian motets with a new disc of works by composer Alessandro Stradella (1643-1682), out on Naïve Classiques on June 21st, 2024.
Principally known for his oratorios and operas, Stradella’s output of sacred motets is “still in an embryonic state,” says Rinaldo Alessandrini. “Three manuscripts can be found in the Biblioteca Estense in Modena: a total of seventeen motets for various ensembles, of which five have been recorded on this CD.”
The album also includes Stradella’s Symphonias in D Major and F Major. Except for Stradella’s Exultate in Deo fideles, all of the motets on the album are world premiere recordings.
Rinaldo Alessandrini writes, “Some of the motets recorded here are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, or to be specific, are written for particular festivals: Nascere virgo for the Nativity (September 8); Convocamini, congregamini for the Immaculate Conception (December 8).”
“The motet Sistite sidera was conceived for more general festivities of the Blessed Virgin, as was In tribulationis. Stradella himself, however, is the stated author of the text of the extra-liturgical motet Exultate in Deo fideles referred to as for the Most Holy.”
1. Stradella: Symphonia a 2 violini in D Major
I. Grave
II. Allegro
III. Allegro
IV. Adagio - Allegro
V. Allegro
2. Stradella: In tribulationibus, in angustiis
No. 1, In tribulationis, in angustis
No. 2, Aria, Ad montem venite
No. 3, Ad floridum montem
No. 4, Hic spirant lenite
No. 5, O mons delitiarum
No. 6, Aria, O gratum montem
No. 7, Eamus egentes
3. Stradella: Exultate in Deo fideles
No. 1, Aria, Exultate in Deo fideles
No. 2, Haec sunt munera divina
No. 3, Aria, Exaudi supplices
4. Stradella: Nascere Virgo potens
No. 1, Nascere Virgo potens
No. 2, O te felicem
No. 3, Per te superbus anguis
No. 4, Mille cantus, mille plausus
5. Stradella: Sistite sidera, coeli motus otiamini
No. 1, Introduzione, Sistite sidera, coeli motus otiamini
No. 2, Aria, Ignis calor sopitus existat
No. 3, Ecce sidus splendidissimus
No. 4, Aria, Ergo grates ei reddamus
No. 5, In tantae solemnitatis die universus orbis
No. 6, Aria, Praestet tellus encomia florum
No. 7, Et omnis creatura
No. 8, Aria, Ergo grates ei reddamus
6. Stradella: Symphonia a 2 violini in F Major: I. Grave
7. Stradella: Convocamini, congregamini
No. 1, Convocamini, congregamini (Lucifero)
No. 2, Huius cruore (Lucifero, 3 Spiriti d’Inferno)
No. 3, Iniustum decretum (Lucifero, 5 Spiriti d’Inferno)
No. 4, Plora, geme
No. 5, Franget haec
No. 6, Caeli ianua patebit
No. 7, Tu absterges Virgo luctus
No. 8, Cum iucunditate
No. 9, Sit nostra tutela
No. 10, Cum iucunditate
The simply wondrous new recording opens on Stradella: Symphonia a 2 violini in D Major, with the sombre work Grave leading the way, then comes the sprightly Allegro, the dance floor swirl of Allegro, the dulcet Adagio - Allegro and the playful Allegro rounding the piece out, and then we get Stradella: In tribulationibus, in angustiis, which opens on the profoundly sung In tribulationis, in angustis, the flirtatious Aria, Ad montem venite, the cultured Ad floridum montem, the embracing Hic spirant lenite, the impassioned, and both the flourishing O mons delitiarum
No. 6, Aria, O gratum montem and the sterner fare of Eamus egentes.
Along next is Stradella: Exultate in Deo fideles, which begins with the ornately sumptuous Aria, Exultate in Deo fideles, the forthright Haec sunt munera divina, ending on the aching yearn found within Aria, Exaudi supplices, and then comes Stradella: Nascere Virgo potens, which itself opens on the earnest Nascere Virgo potens, the harmonized O te felicem, the embodied Per te superbus anguis, closing on the prosperous Mille cantus, mille plausus.
Next we are brought forth Stradella: Sistite sidera, coeli motus otiamini, which opens on the beautiful swirls and twirls that drive Introduzione, Sistite sidera, coeli motus otiamini, the dutiful Aria, Ignis calor sopitus existat, the delicate Ecce sidus splendidissimus, the simply dazzling Aria, Ergo grates ei reddamus, the accomplished In tantae solemnitatis die universus orbis, the cheerful Aria, Praestet tellus encomia florum, itself closing on the erstwhile Et omnis creatura and the spry Aria, Ergo grates ei reddamu.
The short Stradella: Symphonia a 2 violini in F Major: I. Grave is up next, the set closing on Stradella: Convocamini, congregamini, which begins on the sturdy fare of Convocamini, congregamini (Lucifero) and the earthy Huius cruore (Lucifero, 3 Spiriti d’Inferno), before bringing us the attentive Iniustum decretum (Lucifero, 5 Spiriti d’Inferno), the mindful Plora, geme, the all-embracing Franget haec, the empowered Caeli ianua patebit, culminating the work on the cognizant Tu absterges Virgo luctus, the conversant Cum iucunditate, the sentient Sit nostra tutela, and finally the appealing, short but chartered Cum iucunditate.
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