ENSEMBLE CANTIMBANCO - MOTTETTI

The influential early 17th century Italian composer Stefano Bernardi wrote his Motetti in Cantilena in his native Verona in 1613 following a period of study and work in Rome. These world premiere recordings are performed on this CD by Ensemble Cantimbanco and its musical director Roberto Balconi.

Italian priest, composer, and music theorist Stefano Bernardi was born in Verona in 1577 and was maestro di cappella at the city's cathedral from 1611 to 1622. He later moved to Salzburg, where he was responsible for the music at the Salzburg Cathedral and composed a Te Deum for 12 choirs which was performed at the cathedral's consecration in 1628. Bernardi's career spanned the transition from late Renaissance music to early Baroque, with some of his works in the polyphonic style of Palestrina, and others in the new concertato style. He composed both sacred and secular music, including several masses and motets as well as sinfonias and three books of madrigals. He also wrote a treatise on counterpoint which was published in 1615.

Personnel: Ensemble Cantimbanco, Roberto Balconi (musical director)