Merula: Canzon La Strada

All instrumentations & realisations by Maurice Steger, played on period instruments, high Venetian pitch,A = 466 Hz, 1/6 meantone.

Venice, 1625: the city of the doges is one of the principal artistic centres of Europe. At the Cappella San Marco, a profoundly original style of instrumental music is in the process of discarding all reference to the tradition of vocal polyphony.The era of Baroque stravaganze has begun! Now, in the hands of a supreme master of the recorder, this ultra-virtuosic art acquires a new lease of life. Maurice Steger is one of the leading artistic personalities of his generation. He is a frequent guest soloist with leading Baroque ensembles such as the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Musica Antiqua Köln, the English Concert, Europa Galante and I Barocchisti. His recordings have enjoyed great success and in 2006, his interpretation of Telemann's Recorder Concertos with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin for harmonia mundi won top awards from the international press. Unbeatable in this repertoire.

This gem from the early days of digital recording is heard here in a new guise. These musicians never fail to fascinate with their vibrant tempi and irresistible tonal presence. The performances include works by Fontana, Frescobaldi, Turini and Merula and were highly praised when they were first released; “Exemplary: just as upbeat music should be, bright, transparent and airy.” (FAZ)