Search - Tarquinio Merula, Cipriano de Rore, Andrea Gabrieli :: Virtuoso Solo Music for Cornetto

Excellent introduction to the world of the cornetto!

Steven Guy | Croydon, South Australia | 07/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This extremely good recording is a great example of brilliant cornett playing from Mr. Dickey accompanied by the rich sounds of the Tragicomedia ensemble (essentially a continuo group - playing lutes, viols, harp and keyboard instruments).Bruce Dickey handles the most difficult divisions with great panache - his articulation is much smoother than some British cornettists I have heard. Dickey uses contemporary (Baroque) singing techniques like 'messa di voce' and phrases the music in a very agreeably vocal manner.Some of the composers represented on the disc were virtuoso cornettists - Girolamo dalla Casa and Giovanni Bassano, to name two. These composers used chansons from the earlier part of the 16th century as the basis of their compositions - in much the same way that Jazz musicians use 'standards' (well known popular songs) as the starting point for their improvisations.Several of the works on the CD are presented in different forms, which I feel is very useful to the listener.I've loved this CD for a decade now and I am sure that any lover of Baroque and / or Renaissance music would find much to admire on this delightful recording. Buy with confidence!"