O si quis daret concentum, motet for 3 voices, violin, harp & organ

• Date: 164
• Composer: Luigi Rossi
• Period: Baroque (1600-1749)

Review

It opens with a symphonia for the violin and organ, and throughout the piece, alternates the symphonia with the voices. While each differs, it reflects the same almost transcendental bliss of the text. The second symphonia is dominated by the harp and violin, and the organ mostly imitates their lines. The second trio is still more vocally demanding, with a very high tessitura and clear texture that would expose any mistakes. The third symphonia is shorter, again dominated by harp and violin, and is followed by a quicker and more ornamented trio, and the last symphonia is only a few bars long, largely given to the violin. The last vocal passage opens with a relatively long solo soprano passage, but this is joined by the other voices in largely imitative passages, with the harp and organ predominant in the accompaniment. Overall, with its transparent but rich harmonic textures and delicate instrumentation, this piece could almost have been written by Gabriel Faure. ~ Anne Feeney, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Vanitas Vanitatum: Rome 1650	1995
Vanitas Vanitatum: Rome 1650	1995

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