This debut CD of L’Estro d’Orfeo ensemble takes its title “Altri Canti d’Amor” from a madrigal found in Claudio Monteverdi’s Eighth Book of Madrigals. The program focuses on the music of the Seicento Italiano and more precisely on the schools of northern Italy; mainly the Venetian school but also those of Lombardy (Richardo Rognono) and Modena (Marco Uccellini).

It combines both instrumental and vocal pieces- the latter in intrumental versions- connected to the subject of ‘love’.  Imitating the voice was one of the main goals that 17th century players aspired to, and something that is often mentioned in the many treatises of the leading theorists of the time. This CD emphasizes the close relationship that existed between the instrumental and the human voice and the resultant influence of the latter (by imitation) on the technique and performance practices of the former. Instruments themselves have their own voice and are as equally capable of “singing”, offering their own timbre and extensive palette of idiomatic and individual colours.