Giovanni Paolo Colonna (1637-1695) was a native of Bologna and the music director of one of it's major churches, dedicated to San Petronio, where he presided over a rich culture of sacred music distinguished by participation from names now far better known to us such as Torelli, Bononcini and Giovanni Gabrieli. This valuable set brings together for the first time on record all his surviving compositions in the form of the sacred motet which was so popular as an extra-liturgical contribution (perhaps performed as offertory or communion music) towards worship, featuring the skills of what must have been highly skilled singers as well as a rich continuo section. Colonna's music has received relatively little attention on record until now, though Philippe Jaroussky concluded a 2009 album with the gorgeous O coeli devota, and there is one other, older recording of several other motets, as well as a larger-scale oratorio. So the time is now right to reassess his contribution and his own voice, with excellent new, historically informed performances led by Carlo Centemeri, who has already brought several rarities from the Italian Baroque to Brilliant Classics, including music by Albinoni (BC94852) and Bassani (BC94259), which received 5 star reviews in Amadeus and Diapason.These motets are multi-movement works, scarcely dwelling for long on any one emotion or text, even in the arias, but moving pacily though narratives of repentance, devotion and praise, and mostly concluding with exuberant Allelujas, much as Bach would fashion his Jauchzet Gott BWV51 for solo soprano in the Italian style a generation later. Anyone with even a passing interest in the Italian Baroque and it's charming byways will want to hear this. First recordings by Giovanni Colonna (1637-1695), who was the Music Director of the famous church San Petronio in his native Bologna. He composed his Sacred Motets for liturgical use, on devotional texts in Latin. This set presents the complete motets for solo voice and basso continuo, consisting of several movements, written for alternatively soprano, alto, tenor and bass. It is music of great beauty, expressing the emotional content of the text, from repentance to joy, from intimacy to exultation.Excellent performances by 4 Italian soloists and the instrumental ensemble Astrarium Consort, led by Carlo Centemeri, who already successfully recorded for Brilliant Classics chamber music by Bassani (BC94259) and Albinoni (BC94852). Centemeri wrote himself the scholarly liner notes.

Tracklist:

Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae For A Saint, Gpc 19: I. Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae
Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae For A Saint, Gpc 19: II. Salve Dies Beata
Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae For A Saint, Gpc 19: III. Triumphales, Immortals
Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae For A Saint, Gpc 19: IV. Aeterna Scandit Limina
Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae For A Saint, Gpc 19: V. In Hac Die Tam Solemni
Ecce Iubar, Ecce Aurorae For A Saint, Gpc 19: VI. Alleluia
O Lucidissima Dies For The Holy Spirit, Gpc 21: I. O Lucidissima Dies
O Lucidissima Dies For The Holy Spirit, Gpc 21: II. Orbi Sacer Redit Amor
O Lucidissima Dies For The Holy Spirit, Gpc 21: III. O Felix Vere Dies
O Lucidissima Dies For The Holy Spirit, Gpc 21: IV. O Splendida Aurora
O Lucidissima Dies For The Holy Spirit, Gpc 21: V. O Vere Beatam
O Lucidissima Dies For The Holy Spirit, Gpc 21: VI. Alleluia
O Ingens Divini Presulis Munus For A Saint, Gpc 28: I. O Ingens Divini Presulis Munus
O Ingens Divini Presulis Munus For A Saint, Gpc 28: II. Ad Sidera Accredit
O Ingens Divini Presulis Munus For A Saint, Gpc 28: III. O Felix, O Laeta Dies
O Ingens Divini Presulis Munus For A Saint, Gpc 28: IV. Laeta Semper Exultando
Ad Gaudia Gentes Throughout The Year, Gpc 26: I. Ad Gaudia Gentes
Ad Gaudia Gentes Throughout The Year, Gpc 26: II. Intuemini Fidelis Animae
Ad Gaudia Gentes Throughout The Year, Gpc 26: III. Sit Amor In Spe
Ad Gaudia Gentes Throughout The Year, Gpc 26: IV. Eripuit Nos De Inimicis Nostris
Ad Gaudia Gentes Throughout The Year, Gpc 26: V. Ergo Laetas Date Voces
Ad Pugnas Fideles Throughout The Year, Gpc 22: I. Ad Pugnas Fideles
Ad Pugnas Fideles Throughout The Year, Gpc 22: II. Expergiscimini Fideles Omnes
Ad Pugnas Fideles Throughout The Year, Gpc 22: III. Mundi Surgit Ad Honores
Ad Pugnas Fideles Throughout The Year, Gpc 22: IV. Eia Igitur
Ad Pugnas Fideles Throughout The Year, Gpc 22: V. Ad Bella Venite
Ad Pugnas Fideles Throughout The Year, Gpc 22: VI. Alleluia
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: I. Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: II. Egredimini Filiae Sion
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: III. Iam Gaudent Aethera
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: IV. Descendit Caelesist Amor
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: V. Ad Sacros Fulgores
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: VI. O Amor, O Salus, O Vita
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: VII. Laudis Ergo Sonet Honor
Sacri Amoris Ad Ardores For The Blessed, Gpc 30: VIII. Alleluia
O Sidera, O Coeli For A Saint, Gpc 27: I. O Sidera, O Coeli
O Sidera, O Coeli For A Saint, Gpc 27: II. Antonii Beatissimi Est
O Sidera, O Coeli For A Saint, Gpc 27: III. Quid Ergo Expectatis
O Sidera, O Coeli For A Saint, Gpc 27: IV. Exultantes Spirent Venti
O Coeli Devota For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 25: I. O Coeli Devote
O Coeli Devota For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 25: II. Angeli Currite
O Coeli Devota For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 25: III. Ecce Ancilla Trinitatis
O Coeli Devota For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 25: IV. Ad Delicias, Ad Hortum
O Coeli Devota For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 25: V. Haec Ergo Corde Condite
O Coeli Devota For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 25: VI. Alleluia
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: I. Triumphate Fideles
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: II. Properate, Festinate
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: III. O Beatissima Crux
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: IV. Iesu Amara
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: V. Crux Bona
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: VI. Per Te Laetus Exultat Olympus
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: VII. O Crux Venerabilis
Triumphate Fideles For The Holy Cross, Gpc 29: VIII. Alleluia
Gaudete, Cantate For A Virgin, Gpc 24: I. Gaudete, Cantata
Gaudete, Cantate For A Virgin, Gpc 24: II. Exoritur In Terris Novi Syderis Lux
Gaudete, Cantate For A Virgin, Gpc 24: III. Salve Sancta Christi Sponsa
Gaudete, Cantate For A Virgin, Gpc 24: IV. Effloruit In Jesse
Gaudete, Cantate For A Virgin, Gpc 24: V. Gaudete, Cantate (2)
Gaudete, Cantate For A Virgin, Gpc 24: VI. Alleluia
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: I. Ad Novum Caeli Iubar
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: II. Haec Est Maria
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: III. Ista Mundi Per Errors
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: IV. O, Quam Pulchra Es Maria!
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: V. Tu Mater, Tu Sponsa
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: VI. Tu Fax Es Amoris
Ad Novum Caeli Iubar For The Blessed Virgin, Gpc 23: VII. Alleluia
Ad Amores, Ad Honores For A Confessor, Gpc 20: I. Ad Amores, Ad Honores
Ad Amores, Ad Honores For A Confessor, Gpc 20: II. Eia? Eia Quam Mora?
Ad Amores, Ad Honores For A Confessor, Gpc 20: III.O Laetus Triumphus
Ad Amores, Ad Honores For A Confessor, Gpc 20: IV. Alleluia

UPC: 5028421946474
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 9.25.15
Format: CD

Astrarium Consort / Carlo Centemeri - Triumphate Fideles - Complete Motets for Solo Voic (CD)