Alessandro Stradella (1639-1682)
Alessandro Stradella was an Italian composer of the middle Baroque period. He wrote operas, cantatas, oratorios, and instrumental pieces (mostly for stringed instruments and basso continuo).
Chare Jesu suavissimo (Dear Sweet Jesus) is a song to Jesus. It is performed in this recording by contralto Gérard Lesne and the ensemble Il Seminario musicale. I hope you enjoy this beautiful music!
Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741)
Johann Joseph Fux was an Austrian composer, music theorist, organist to three emperors at the Imperial Court in Vienna, and important pedagogue during the late baroque period (1660-1741). He is most well known as the author of a treatise on counterpoint entitled Gradus ad Parnassum. Fux composed sacred music, instrumental pieces, oratorios, and a few operas.
Emilia’s aria is from an opera by Fux entitled Julo Ascanio. In this recording it is sung by Radu Marian who is a “natural castrato.” His voice did not break during puberty, so what you hear in this recording is his natural singing voice.
Teodorico Pedrini (1671-1746)
Teodorico Pedrini was an Italian priest, musician, composer, and missionary. He served as a missionary at the Imperial Court of China for 36 years. Pedrini was the music teacher to three sons of one of China’s emperors. He was the co-author of the first treatise on Western Music theory written in Chinese.
The Sonata no.10 is written for Violin and continuo. Here is a recording of it played by a group called Le Baroque Nomade. It is one of several sonatas written for the Kangxi Emperor. Enjoy!
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian composer and violin virtuoso. Today he is best known as the composer of 4 violin concertos called the Four Seasons.
Vivaldi composed around 550 concertos. About 350 of his concertos are for a solo instrument, and of those roughly 230 are violin concertos. Vivaldi also composed some interesting concertos for multiple solo instruments with orchestra (about 30), and nearly 60 concertos for orchestra without a solo instrument (the orchestra is the solo instrument).
Here is a recording of one of Vivaldi’s concertos for diverse instruments (a concerto for multiple instruments) played by the famous baroque ensemble Europa Galante. It is full of rhythmic drive and it is lively. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Vivaldi Concerto with multiple instruments:
Willem de Fesch (1687-1761) was a Dutch composer and violone (a bass viol) virtuoso. He worked in Asterdam, was Kapellmeister (chapel master) of Antwerp Cathedral, and played the violone in Handel’s orchestra in London.
His works include oratorios, duets, trios, solo and trio sonatas, concertos and part songs.
Frans Brüggen is a recorder virtuoso, conductor, and early music specialist.
Gustave Leonhardt is a harpsichordist, organist, conductor and early music specialist.
Here is a clip of Frans Bruggen and Gustav Leonhardt playing a sonata by Willem de Fesch.
Musical Treats 