Sacred Music for the Poor at Santa Maria in Vallicella, Rome

Concerto Romano, Alessandro Quarta

The urban district in Rome called Vallicella lies near the Tiber River, where the danger from flooding used to be greatest. Located directly at the centre of the metropolis today, the district was overpopulated during the 17th century with people living in the poorest conditions. This caused the priest and later Saint Filippo Neri to move his missionary activities to Vallicella. Still impressive today is the beautiful church Santa Maria in Vallicella in the heart of this district and the Oratorium attached to it, the centre for the order founded by Neri in which music played a fundamental role. Music was a very important medium for the missionaries in the spreading of their message, and this led to a multifaceted and very specific production of music. This repertoire, a link between sophisticated and popular music, represents an important part of Roman cultural history, also generating one of the most beautiful points of contact between simple people and art music.
The ensemble Concerto Romano and their leader, Alessandro Quarta, reside in Rome; they succeed magnificently in bridging this gap anew, bringing together the two sides, so different as they were. With their collection of lauds, canzone and frottole, mixed with dance-like instrumental music, they create an incredibly vital sonic image of the seething pulse of the Holy City during the 17th century.

Deh, venitene, pastori  2:53	play
Animuccia, Giovanni
Cor mio dolente e tristo  3:06	play
De Langa, Francisco Soto
Nell´apparir del sempiterno sole  2:23	play
De Langa, Francisco Soto
Sinfonia  3:39	play
Anonym
Varicosa è la via  2:35	play
De Langa, Francisco Soto
Il Ciel clemente  3:29	play
De Cavalieri, Emilio
Mentre lo sposo mio  3:43	play
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Canzona  3:27	play
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Perché m´inviti pur  1:43	play
Anonym
Pietro così dicea  3:23	play
Marenzio, Luca
Sinfonia ”Sancta Maria”  2:35	play
Anonym
Mentre il mio spirto langue  3:04	play
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Deh, ritorna al tuo Signore  2:40	play
Mazzocchi,Virgilio
Canario  3:12	play
Kapsberger, Giovanni Girolamo
Signor, ti benedico  2:20	play
De Langa, Francisco Soto
Dio ti salvi, Maria  4:02	play
Anerio, Giovanni Francesco
Perder gl´amici  3:27	play
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Torna la sera bruna  4:23	play
Anerio, Giovanni Francesco
Fuggi fuggi quel ben  4:18	play
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O penitenza, gioia del core  3:34	play
Anerio, Giovanni Francesco
La santa allegrezza  2:52	play
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