Background
Claudio Merulo was born on 8 April 1533 in Correggio, Italy.
(Claudio Merulo was one of a small number of Italian Renai...)
Claudio Merulo was one of a small number of Italian Renaissance composers who was instrumental in transforming the musical landscape of the 16th century. He was a hugely prolific writer of keyboard music, marking the change from vocal-based forms to new genres written especially for the instrument. Additionally, he wrote sublime sacred music in the Venetian tradition of the High Renaissance, and his motets, which are intended for the Office, are remarkable for their clear and spacious lines alongside bold imitative counterpoint. This is the fifth book of his motets, which reveal an innovative form and sophisticated linguistic freedom. The interplay of musical spaces and colours anticipate the concertato style of the rising Baroque period. He directs the Modus Ensemble, a group of young Italian musicians whose repertoire also spans many musical periods, from Renaissance to contemporary.Merulos Motets, though standing in the tradition of the High Renaissance, reveal an innovative form and linguistic freedom. In his 5-part Motets for single choir the initial imitative counterpoints develops into antiphonal sections and ritornello passages that anticipate the concertato style of the emerging Baroque period. The Italian Modus Ensemble, conducted by Mauro Marchetti, is accompanied by viola da gamba, violone, theorbo and organ. The complete sung texts in the original language are included in the booklet.
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(Claudio Merulo (Correggio, near Reggio Emilia, 8 April 15...)
Claudio Merulo (Correggio, near Reggio Emilia, 8 April 1533 Parma, 4 May 1604) enjoyed great renown in his time, particularly as an extraordinarily melodious organist. His wonderful skill in the practice of intavolare diminuito, where he was regarded as the leader and master (in the words of Girolamo Diruta), was expressed most vividly by his famous Toccate. This recording presents, for the first time, the entire corpus of Merulas Toccate: the 9 Toccate contained in the First Book of Toccate dintavolatvra dorgano (Rome, Simone Verovio, 1598), recorded on Baldassarre Malaminis in cornu Evangelii organ (1596) in the Basilica di San Petronio, Bologna; the 10 Toccate contained in the Second Book of Toccate dintavolatura dorgano (Rome, Verovio, 1604); and the 7 manuscript Toccate drawn from the Nuova intavolatura dorgano tedesca (1637-40) preserved in the National University Library of Turin, Collection Giordano 2, where the Toccata del 3.io tono di Claudio Merulo basically corresponds to the Toccata del terzo tuono di Clavdio Mervlo that is included in Il Transilvano, by Dirvta (cc. 16v-19r). These 7 Toccate have been recorded on Graziadio Antegnatis organ (1565) in the Basilica Palatina di Santa Barbara, Mantua.
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(Tracks: Sempre me ride sta 1:14 Adrian Willaert Ecco Vine...)
Tracks: Sempre me ride sta 1:14 Adrian Willaert Ecco Vinegia bella 3:58 Andrea Gabrieli La Zambeccara 2:25 Claudio Merulo Occhio non fu giamai 1:51 Adrian Willaert Qual dolcezza giamai 4:04 Adrian Willaert Ricercar del settimo tono 3:50 Andrea Gabrieli Dolce mio ben 2:12 Baldassare Donato Ricercare No. 3 1:21 Silvestro Ganassi La bella netta ignuda 2:59 Cipriano Da Rore Canzon ariosa 2:48 Andrea Gabrieli Tirsi morir volea 4:26 Andrea Gabrieli Ricercare No. 1 1:10 Silvestro Ganassi Vecchie letrose 1:35 Adrian Willaert Arosez vos violettes 5:05 Giovanni Bassano Ahi miserelle 2:06 Baldassare Donato Ricercar del primo tono 6:52 Andrea Gabrieli O dio se vede chiaro 2:27 Francesco Silvestrino A quando havea 3:10 Adrian Willaert Liete e pensose 3:54 Adrian Willaert Ricercar 2:02 Adrian Willaert Quando nascesti, Amor? 2:57 Adrian Willaert Recercada secunda 1:52 Diego Ortiz Canzona No. 14 1:45 Claudio Merulo Italia mia 3:38 Philippe Verdelot Madonna qual certazza 2:46 Philippe Verdelot O felici occhi miei 1:55 Diego Ortiz
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Claudio Merulo was born on 8 April 1533 in Correggio, Italy.
Little is known about his early life except that he studied in Correggio with Tuttovale Menon, a famous madrigalist who also worked in the Ferrara court; he also studied with Girolamo Donato, an organist. It is likely that he studied with Zarlino at St. Mark's in Venice.
Claudio Merulo, whose real name was Merlotti, served briefly as organist of the Cathedral at Brescia. He then became second organist at St. Mark's, Venice, in 1557 and first organist, succeeding Annibale Padovano, in 1566 (at which time Andrea Gabrieli became second organist). In 1586 Merulo entered the service of the Duke of Parma, became organist in the Cathedral there the following year, and returned to the ducal service as organist in 1591. He was also active as a publisher of music, and he seems to have taken an active interest in organ building. Most of his works were published posthumously or at a long enough period after their composition to make dating of the various stylistic innovations difficult. Merulo also wrote organ canzonas, organ Masses, a few original instrumental works, and some intermezzi (stage works with incidental music, performed at the courts). During the 16th century brilliance of performance and improvisation played an important part in the activity of the organists at St. Mark's. Merulo died in Parma on 4 May 1604 and was buried in Parma Cathedral near to the tomb of Cipriano de Rore.
Claudio Merulo was particularly important in the evolution of an independent style in organ composition, and he made significant contributions to the development of the keyboard toccata. Merulo enjoyed such a reputation as a performer that his practice and teaching were made central in the definitive work on performance that came from the pen of his pupil Girolamo Diruta (II Transilvano, part I, 1593; part II, 1608).
(Tracks: Sempre me ride sta 1:14 Adrian Willaert Ecco Vine...)
(Claudio Merulo (Correggio, near Reggio Emilia, 8 April 15...)
(Claudio Merulo was one of a small number of Italian Renai...)
Claudio Merulo was married Amabilia Banzola and they had a daughter.
