Scheidt: Galliard Battaglia

This is the first record in a projected series on Hyperion by His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts. The works featured comprehensively survey the remarkable repertoire composed over two hundred years in Italy, Germany and Spain and reveal an astonishing breadth of atmosphere. The musical pomp and splendour of bygone royal ceremony can be answered by the most tender and delicate of chamber music: all legitimate repertoire for what was in the past recognized as the most versatile of all instrumental ensembles.

In the early 17th Century the ’Guard of the Battlement’ was not only the watchman but more like the Town Piper as he had to communicate with his fellow guardians by acoustic signals. Town councils soon realized that these talents could be used for prestige purposes. This boosted the reputation of the town pipers along with prominent musicians of the day such as Praetorius and Scheidt. This recording demonstrates the spectacular sound effects and expertise of these fine musicians. Capella de la Torre on period instruments bring to life this exciting music.

Compositions descriptive of battles form a minor but distinctive category of music from the 16th to the early 19th centuries. Battle music in the Baroque period was appreciated for its expressive and dramatic potential. It often used fragments of real military music, as well as the obvious trumpet fanfares and rallying cries. The potent and acclaimed cornetto ensemble Concerto Palatino team up with some of Montreal's finest early music performers to whip up a storm in these Baroque battle scenes.

The Festival Montréal Baroque takes place every year in June, in the neighborhood of Old Montreal. The founder and director of the festival, gambist Susie Napper, infuses this event with a festive air, concocting unusual and original programs. As an associate of the festival, ATMA co-produces certain concerts, which are then recorded. This sample disc, signaling the approach of Montréal Baroque 2005, presents extracts from recordings made at previous festivals, some of which have not yet been released.