Antonio Valente (v.1530-1585)Gallarda Napolitana Diego Ortiz (v.1510-v.1570) Passamezzo antico : Zarabanda (Recercada V) - Passamezzo Moderno (Recercada II) - Ruggiero (Quinta pars IX) - Romanesca (Recercada VII) Andrea Falconiero (v.1585-1656) Passacalle - Ciaccona Salomone Rossi (1570-1630) Sopra l'Aria di Ruggiero Biagio Marini (1587-1663) Passacalio Improvisation Canarios Tarquinio Merula (1594/95-1665) Ruggiero - Ciaccona Francisco Correa de Arauxo (1576/77-1654) Tres Glosas sobre Todo el mundo en general Henry Purcell (1659-1695) Sonata a 2 - 3 Parts upon a Ground Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) Kanon und Gigue Anonyme Greensleeves to a Ground
Hespèrion XXI Manfredo Kraemer, violon David Techler 1734 - Pablo Valetti, violon anon. allemand v.1750 - David Plantier, violon anon. école tyrolienne v.1750 - Jordi Savall, violes de gambe italiennes soprano & basse (v.1500 & Venise 1550 - Bruno Cocset, violoncelle - Sergi Casademunt, violone catalan anonyme fin 18e s. - Michael Behringer & Luca Guglielmi, orgue & clavecin - Arianna Savall, arpa doppia - Xavier Díaz, théorbe, guitare & vihuela - Pedro Estevan, Eliseo Parra, percussions Direction Jordi Savall
Following the astonishing success of La Folia, Jordi Savall began work on an in-depth study and reappraisal of the most interesting works created around the basso ostinato. The musical journey of Ostinato, covering 150 years and crossing the lenght and breadth of Europe, takes us from the early works of Diego Ortiz to Johann Pachelbel's Canon. This recording gives us insight into two types of composition. On the one hand, there are the richly improvised works which were built around the raw material provided by Ortiz, with the added development of a single-voice part (for viola) - such as Greensleeves to a Ground, Canarios and Gallarda Napolitana. On the other hand, we have those compositions which were constructed along the more elaborate lines of chamber music, allowing a free, uninterrupted interplay among the instruments (Falconiero, Marini, Purcell, Pachelbel). Ostinato is an anthology which brings together the most representative works of the art of improvisation and of a musical form based on a unique concept of the basso, which is repeated sequentially throughout the compositions. The multiplicity of solutions developed on the basis of the system which is common to all the works included in the anthology results in a disc full of contrasts, variety, verve and surprise.
