Event description
PROGRAMME
Works by Tarquinius Merula (1595-1665):
Beatus vir / "Happy is he who reverently fears the Lord"
La Treccha
Chi vuol ch'io m'innamori / "He who wants me to fall in love with him"
Cantate, jubilate / "Sing, praise"
Canzona
La Ruggiera
Hor ch'è tempo di dormire / "It's time for sleep now"
Ballo detto Gennaro
Gaudeamus omnes / "Let us all rejoice"
Sonata cromatica
Ciaccona
Su la cetra amorosa / "Playing the lyre of love"
Folle è ben che si crede / "The fool is he who believes"
For the 17th century Lithuanian-Polish state ruled by the Vasa dynasty. The first half of the 17th century was an exceptional period of cultural prosperity, with many music masters known throughout Europe occupying the highest positions in the world of Lithuanian and Polish music. The Italian composer, organist and violinist Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665) was perhaps the most famous and influential of these masters. From 1621 to 1626, he worked as an organist at the court of Sigismund Vasa in the palace and church. Immediately afterwards, Merula returned to Cremona to take up the honorary position of maestro di capella at the Cathedral of Cremona. Merula played a significant role in the creation of many early Baroque musical forms, which finally took shape in the mature Baroque era: the cantata, the aria, the ecclesiastical and chamber sonata, the variations based on the ostinato bass, the symphony.
This programme features arias and madrigals for one to three voices and instrumental canzonas for two voices, including the most popular and best-loved compositions by T. Merula.
CURRICULUM VALUES
Beatus vir / "Happy is the one who fears the Lord with reverence"
Happy is the one who reverently fears the Lord, and who sincerely keeps his commands. His descendants will be mighty, a blessed generation of the righteous.
Chi vuol ch'io m'innamori / "Who wants me to fall in love?"
Who wants me to fall in love, at least tell me what? Maybe the most beautiful of all living flowers, but what is a flower? Maybe burning eyes that are about to go out? Unfortunately, death is killing our life every second. Today we laugh, but tomorrow we cry.
Cantate, jubilate / "Sing, praise"
Sing, praise, rejoice, make music, alleluia! Glory to God the Father who created us, glory to the Son who redeemed us, glory to the Holy Spirit who sanctified us, alleluia!
Hor ch'è tempo di dormire / "Now is the time to sleep"
Sleep my son, do not weep for the time to weep will come again, I am singing a lullaby for you, now you sleep. Drink my milk, for the time will come when you will be heard through the wine that is runneth over; weep not, for the time will come when you cry aloud to your Father from the cross. Rest your hands and feet, for the time will come when they will be pierced by nails, and your beautiful face will be scratched bloody by thorns. Sleep, my love, my Saviour, and we shall meet later in paradise.
Su la cetra amorosa / "Playing the lyre of love"
