MARCO ANTONIO CENTORIO (c.1600-1638): La Centoria, Vigilate Pastores, La Leggiadra, Laudate pueri (2), La Gratiosa, hodie canant angeli, La Coccha, Jubilat Eclcesia, La Vezzosam O dulcis et bone Jesu, Spargite flores.

Description: The album opens with the elegant chant La Centoria, ‘to be played on two organs’ (with the option of adding string instruments), a singularly fine piece in the style of the late 16th-century Milanese canzone that was already in decline. There are several pastoral canzone: non-liturgical music written for the enjoyment of the aristocracy and clergy, which display Centorio’s melodic gifts and contrapuntal skills. They alternate here with instrumental interludes and with accompanied motets, of the same character as the pastoral works but composed to sacred texts. Cappella Musicale della Cattedrale di Vercelli; Denis Milano.