Giovanni Gabrieli

There have been many recordings of the famous Gabrieli canzoni for various combinations of brass instruments. This arrangement for brass quartet is a welcome addition to this repertoire. Antiphonal sp...

This ten part canzona is a classic ~ a calm opening precedes a short cross-rhythmic 3/4 section followed by an extraordinary common time section which combines ingenious counterpoint and crisp rhythms...

In florid and stunning counterpoint throughout, the one near rhythmic unison towards the middle comes as a real shock. A work showing extraordinary technique. Dur 2'45'

Exchanging the familiar antiphonal effects for skilful counterpoint, this canzona manages to successfully combine both grandeur and extreme virtuosity for the principal players of each of the two choi...

Following a grand opening tutti for the two equal choirs of five voices, Gabrieli crafts an ingenious work where every aspect of echo effect is explored.

A work which clearly looks towards the baroque concerto grosso with its repeated ritornello and its virtuoso writing for two soloists.

The predominant feature in this one-choir work is solemn counterpoint, largely in the soprano and alto register.

Characteristic rhythms and triple times for each four-part choir separately, followed by a glorious combination of all three choirs with some wonderfully incisive rhythmic passages. Dur 3'30'

Scored for three, four-part choirs this canzona is the most fanfare-like and brilliant of Gabrieli's entire output and all based on a simple arpeggio figure. Dur 2'15'

Scored for three four-part choirs this is an extraordinary work where each choir literally copies the first in succession for much of the time. With carefully distanced groups the effect can be stunni...

Found in the Kassel regional library in Germany, this piece divides the players into three unequal choirs of four, three and five. The three groups are completely integrated throughout, giving a rich...

This fourteen part sonata is not only one of Gabrieli's largest ensembles ~ including a 'coro grave' or low choir ~ but also the most harmonically daring of all his instrumental works. And yet after s...

Conceived for three large groups of five players apiece, this sonata combines grandeur and virtuosity for the three principal players of each choir.

A lavish instrumental work in the 1597 collection. Fifteen voices lying almost exclusively in the alto to bass registers.

Simple yet characterful four-part canzonas found in Raverii's 1608 collection.

Simple yet characterful four-part canzonas found in Raverii's 1608 collection.

A fairly conservative work in five parts, but not without deft harmonic and rhythmic touches which point towards the imagination of later works.

A six part canzona which opens with one of Gabrieli's most characteristic rising themes and goes on to embrace attractive three-part writing, flourishes, scale passages and a brief triple-time section...

The opening theme of this six part work retains the canzona rhythm, but also uses the unusual intervals of diminished fourth and fifth. The overall effect is of a certain angularity and rusticity.

This 6 part canzon is the first to seriously explore Gabrieli's fascination with opposing rhythms. The essentially lyrical duple time music is punctuated four times by a bold triple-time ritornello.

This seven part canzona is one of the most unusual and daring rhythmic pieces with overlapping 3/4 and 6/8 plus a grand coda with dotted rhythms and fast scale passages. Dur 3'45'

An assertive single note call on the familiar canzona rhythm leads to superbly mature seven part contrapuntal writing containing immense rhythmic and textural variation.

The splendidly bright opening and confident major feel of this seven part canzona all point to a work written for a joyous rather than a formal occasion.

This eight part canzona is unusual in having a 'high' and a 'low' choir and also a recurring 'motto' theme. Dur 4'15'

This eight part canzona is subtitled 'Fa Sol La Re' which is a reference to the bass line, repeated in a bright triple time over thirty times finally expanding for the brilliant finish. Dur 3'30'