The Spirit of Florence

The Spirit of Florence is the seventh CD Inside Sounds has produced for WONDERS: The Memphis International Cultural Series. The music was recorded by Memphis-based Ensemble Seicento at the Inside Sounds recording studio and celebrates Italian composers of the Renaissance and Baroque. The instruments played by these musicians are from this period, and the pieces they perform allow for improvisation, which was an important characteristic of the music. While several of the pieces feature beautiful vocal interpretations, the ensemble demonstrates its finesse with captivating and delightful instrumentals. The CD cover features Raphael’s Head of a Muse.

Instrumentation: soprano, mezzo-soprano, cello, viols, baroque guitar, theorbo, harpsichord, lute and percussion.

Includes: Quel Squardo Sdegnosetto (Claudio Monteverdi), Passacalle (Andrea Falconieri), Espagnoletta (traditional, Arr. Keller), Chiome d’Oro (Monteverdi), Amarilli mia bella (Giulio Caccini), Toccata Terza (Giovanni Kapsberger), Ciaconna (Falconieri), Se L’aura Spira (Girolamo Frescobaldi), Gagliarda Prima (Frescobaldi), Pur ti Miro (Monteverdi), Gigue (Ludovico Roncalli), Passacaglio (Biagio Marini), Gagliarda Segunda (Frescobaldi)