A. Marcello - Concerto for 2 Oboes, Violin, and Strings in G

ALESSANDRO MARCELLO (1669-1747)

"La Cetra": Concerto No. 6 for two oboes, two flutes, violin, strings, and basso continuo in G major

1. Allegro

2. Larghetto

3. Vivace

Performed by Collegium Musicum 90
Directed by Simon Standage

*Alessandro Marcello was an Italian nobleman and dilettante who excelled in various areas, including poetry, philosophy, mathematics and, perhaps most notably, music.

A slightly older contemporary of Antonio Vivaldi, Marcello held concerts at his hometown of Venice. He composed and published several sets of concertos, including six concertos under the title of La Cetra (The Lyre), as well as cantatas, arias, canzonets, and violin sonatas. Marcello often composed under the pseudonym Eterio Stinfalico, his name as a member of the celebrated Arcadian Academy (Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi ). He died in Padua in 1747. Alessandro's brother was Benedetto Marcello, also a composer.

A particularily interesting aspect of the "La Cetra" concertos is that Marcello states exactly how the concertos should be scored. He asks for a total of fifteen instruments divided into six groups: a first oboe or flute (traversiere) with a first solo violin; a second oboe or flute with a second solo violin; two ripieno first violins; two ripieno second violins; a first cello plus two violas (no seperate viola part is given, necissitating much octave transposition); and a harpsichord (cembalo), second cello, violone, and bassoon. The ripieno violins, however, simply double sections of the top solo lines, and Marcello allows for smaller-scale perforamces with just six solo strings or even a minimum of four violins and one cello (plus harpsichord).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• baroque
• classical
• albinoni
• vivaldi
• oboe
• minor

[pietalpha2]

the usual high standard of performance associated with this music!

thanks for all of it posted here

[kyblueeyes85]

Cielo is heaven in Italian. not Cello.

[mrmolinodelahoz]

the Canaletto is enough to make you like this recording. Marcello wrote the beautiful oboe concerto. If he did nothing else, that was enough.

Mar-cello literaly means sea-heaven.

How appropriate for a Venetian just like Canaletto.

[Montyleeny14]

i have to agree more or less with gustavs9, though the music is pretty dull and lacks lively atmosphere at its feet there surely must be respect for this composer as quite most of the music composed by Marcello relates its techniques to those of Vivaldi.

Most composers who try interpreting one other composers' techniques often fail this manner and remain unpopular which concludes the reason why Marcello's music is not fondly respected as much and he himself not known.

Though others may disagre

[xr1983kr]

do you know whre can i found Marcello's vocal creations? Thank

[Harmonieuniverselle]

Very very nice find, I was searching for this for a long time since I heard it on the radio!

This music, is of an incredible lyricism, which announces the masterpieces of Mozart and Haydn.

[gustavs9]

I must say that this music should be listened not too much concentrated on the melody. The performance is of high quality but the music in my opinion is not. Alessandro Marcello is perhaps the only compser of italian baroque that I would define DULL.

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Well...Marcello is oft whimsical:AND here is no exception.Standage is conducting them ahead of the beat and that brings the necessary 'spring' to propel this into the heart of the listener.Charming!