Tarquinio Merula - the Great Music Master of the Vasa Dynasty

International Early Music Ensemble “Canto Fiorito”

Renata Dubinskaitė - mezzo-soprano

Josue Melendez - cornetto

Davide Pozzi - harpsichord, organ

Rodrigo Calveyra - cornetto, recorder, artistic director

 

The first half of the seventeenth century was an exceptional period of cultural prosperity for the state of Lithuania and Poland ruled by the Vasa dynasty. World-renowned music masters occupied the highest positions in the Lithuanian-Polish musical scene. Italian composer, organist and violinist Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665) was undoubtedly the most famous and influential among these masters. In the years 1621-1626, he worked as the organist of the rulers’ palace and church in the estate of Sigismund Vasa. Merula returned to Cremona to take up the prestigious position of maestro di capella at the Cathedral of Cremona.

 

Merula played a significant role in the creation of many early forms of Baroque music that finally took shape in the late Baroque era: cantata, aria, church and chamber sonata, variations based on ostinato bass, symphony. His music is distinguished by stylistic diversity, virtuosity, expressiveness and harmony experiments.

 

The program consists of arias and madrigals for one voice and instrumental canzones for two voices, including the most popular compositions by Merula, loved by listeners.