Philippe Verdelot played a very important role in the development of the madrigal during the Italian Renaissance. Born in France, he probably moved to Italy at a young age. From 1522 onwards, he held the most important positions in church music in Florence - first he was maestro di capella at the Baptistery of Florence Cathedral, and a year later also at the Cathedral itself. After 1530, with the riots surrounding the expulsion of the Medici family and the siege of the city, all biographical traces are lost, and no works created after these events seen to have survived. In the years before, however, Verdelot had initiated important musical developments with his madrigals, which at that time were the most published in Italy. The Ensemble Profeti della Quinta presents a selection of four-part madrigals from an anthology published posthumously (1540, 1565). A special feature of their performance is that each singer reads from the originally notated single voice - unlike in a modern score with parts notated one above the other. The musicians must therefore listen to each other much more closely and be able to react spontaneously. This spontaneity can be felt throughout the recording, and takes the listener to the beginnings of the Italian madrigal in a very intense way.

Tracklist:

Se L'ardor Foss'equale
Se Mai Provasti Donna
Gloriar Mi Poss Io Donne
Igno Soave
Io Son Tal Volta (Arr. For String Ensemble)
Divini Occhi Sereni
Trist'amarilli Mia
Ognor Per Voi Sospiro
Madonna Qual Certezza
Madonna Per Voi Ardo
Se Dimostrarvi A Pieno (Arr. For String Ensemble)
Si Lieta E Grata Morte
Deh Perche Si Veloce
Quando Amor I Begli Occhi
Non VI Fidate O Simplicetti Amanti
Con Lagrime Et Sospir (Arr. For String Ensemble)
Fuggi, Fuggi, Cor Mio!
Con Soave Parlar
Passer Mai Solitario In Alcun Tetto
Benchè'l Misero Cor (Arr. For String Ensemble)
La Bella Man Mi Porse
Gran Dolor Di Mia Vita

UPC: 7619990104228
Label: Pan Classics
Release Date: 1.15.21
Format: CD

Verdelot / Profeti Della Quinta - Madrigals for Four Voices (CD)