Description
Claudio Merulo (1533–1604) was one of the most versatile musicians of his day, since he was celebrated as a composer, performer, teacher, printer, editor and organ-builder. Although he published several collections of vocal music, he is generally remembered for his keyboard music.
The eight ricercars found in this collection are substantial works and differ markedly in style from the early-sixteenth-century lute and keyboard works in this genre. Unlike those earlier compositions, Merulo’s ricercars are modelled on motet practice and are consequently more sophisticated because they are imitative. In these pieces Merulo shows a preference for polythematic ideas and exploits such techniques as inversion, stretto, and thematic combination. These works are a significant contribution to the form and offer valuable evidence of contemporary practices in embellishment. They also shed light on contemporary fingering techniques and, by extension, on phrasing and articulation. This edition has been prepared from the recently rediscovered unique copy found in the Biblioteka Jagiellonska, Kraków, Poland.
Described by Galilei as “sonatore de tasti, e contrapuntista rarissimo,” Claudio Merulo left twenty-four canzoni d’intavolatura, presented here in a complete edition for the first time. When compared with their models, also included in this edition, Merulo’s canzoni constitute an invaluable guide to keyboard ornamentation of the late sixteenth century.
