Philippe Jaroussky . Cantata "Ombre tacite e sole" by A. Scarlatti. Part II.

Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor

Concerto Melante
Das Konzert "Barocke Schätze" , Musikfest Bremen.

Live broadcast on 09 .09. 09 from Unser Lieben Frauen Kirche, Bremen .

Alessandro Scarlatti ( 1660- 1725)

Cantata "Ombre tacite e sole" ( 1716)

Adagio "Ombre tacite e sole"
Lento "Con piede errante e lasso"
Recitativo "Qui, tra tenebre oscure"
Andante e Lento " Allor d´intorno a te"

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"At the beginning of each air, I have noted the tempo at which it should be played and, in the appropriate places, the pianos and fortes of the instruments, which are the chiaroscuro and make all accompanied song a delight."

Alessandro Scarlatti,
Letter to Ferdinando de Medici, Rome, May 29, 1706

After the Renaissance madrigal, it was the cantata-its introduction prepared by Monteverdi-that became the vehicle of choice for setting love poetry to music in Italy up to the middle of the 18th century (the genre was a religious one only in Germany). The cantata's melodic and rhythmic figures, and its successions of harmonic colours, were ideal for evoking the heart's many conditions-imitating its various states of passion, from exaltation to anguish, and its progressions of heartbreak, jealousy or happiness. Except for the employment of a narrator, made necessary by the poetry, and the fact that a single voice occasionally sings several roles, the form's alternating recitatives and arias often make it a miniature unstaged opera.
The greatest and probably the most prolific composer of the cantata was Alessandro Scarlatti, who left behind over 600 of them, most written for voice and basso continuo. A relative unknown among today's music lovers, though his importance has long been acknowledged by music historians, Scarlatti was born in Palermo in 1660 into a family of musicians. By the age of 12, he had moved to Rome, where in 1679, he presented his first oratorio and an opera, attracting the attention of Queen Christina of Sweden. His career as a composer and chapel master was almost equally divided between Naples and the Eternal City, under the patronage of Cardinals Pamphili and Ottoboni, and of the marquis Ruspoli and del Campio, the latter of whom was the viceroy of Naples. He also tried, in vain, to obtain a position in Florence through the intervention of Ferdinando de Medici. His prolificacy as a composer of secular vocal music is astonishing, even by the standards of the day; for three decades, dozens of his operas occupied the stages of cities throughout Italy and Germany, and London would develop a taste for opera seria thanks to his Pirro e Demetrio.
These same qualities can be found in his sacred music. In addition to masses and motets in the style of Palestrina for the choirs of the papal chapel, he also left motets for solo voice which show the same commitment to expression that weaves through the texture of his cantatas.
Toward the end of his life (he died in Naples in 1725), perhaps in response to the declining popularity of his stage works, Scarlatti turned to instrumental music, composing brilliant toccatas and variations for harpsichord, concerti grossi, and sonatas for various combinations of winds and strings.
The wonderful comment about Alessandro Scarlatti made 50 years ago by the composer Ennemond Trillat: "His music's eloquence does not implore, it stems from that spiritual intoxication which is the very essence of the Baroque. And this music sings without phraseology. It is free of all extrinsic intent, and its lyricism produces perfect forms. Its fluid grace is essentially melodic but without a trace of exuberance."
François Filiatrault,
Translation: Peter Christensen.
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I would be ever thankful to CaraPhilos for discovering and to the kind employees of Central Library Hannover for their friendly permission to make photos of the original score from the " Kestner Collection".
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I´ m very sorry, but I was forced to use "il coltello" again. :-)

(At the end of this video you can notice the ( very quiet ) bell of the Cathedral St. Petri).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Philippe
• Jaroussky
• Alessandro
• Scarlatti
• Cantata
• Ombre
• tacite
• sole

[mon1650]

Il y a encore des vidéos anciennes que je ne connaissais pas! Merci, Jana

[tuffy942]

Janochka, your videos are always new and stunning.Thanks for the gift of this beautiful voice and music!

[nightspeII]

Jana, many thanks for the video! No one could do this better :)