Riccardo Pisani & La Smisuranza - Harpa Romana. Arias & Cantatas by the 17th-Century Virtuosos (2024)

“What I have that is most precious I will preserve in my own name”. This is most likely the belief that guided a series of harpists – ranging from Leonardo Mollica, the most renowned virtuoso of the late Renaissance, to Orazio Michi, Marco Marazzoli and Giovan Carlo Rossi (brother of the better-known Luigi) – to change their names to Leonardo, Orazio, Marco, and Carlo “dall’Arpa” respectively. Although none of the above were actually born in Rome, this was the place where their careers played out. Restoring an identity to these musicians is the express aim of this recording project. And the resulting portraits of these virtuosos of the “queen of instruments” are the outcome of lengthy research, study, transcription and arrangement carried out by Riccardo Pisani and Chiara Granata.

The ensemble La Smisuranza, with its unique formation of three double harps, accompanies the tenor Riccardo Pisani in this exhilarating musical journey, characterised by vibrant and ever-changing instrumental textures that alternate moments of intimacy and exuberance in accordance with the poetic text set to music. Pisani, a singer “gifted with a warm, seductive voice” (Diapason) presents the music of his home city after the recent success of La Cetra di Sette Corde , a recording dedicated exclusively to the 17-century tenor Francesco Rasi.

Tracklist
01. Anonymous- Canzona
02. Michi- Or, che la notte del silentio amica
03. Michi- Più non armi la mia lira
04. Frescobaldi- Toccata per spinettina sola overo liuto
05. Michi- Perdan quest’occhi il sole
06. Falconieri- Arpa
07. Michi- Infelice mia vita
08. Anonymous- Toccata per Florete Flores
09. Savioni- Se l’amar non è peccato
10. Landi- La Ragana
11. Rossi- Vanne mio core alle stelle
12. Rossi- È così dolce la pena
13. Anonymous- Una cetra s’accoglie
14. Rossi- Vuoi ch’io mora
15. Rossi- Lasciatemi qui solo
16. Marazzoli- E pur volsi innamorarmi
17. Colista- Paradigma I
18. Marazzoli- Misero, et è pur vero
19. Marazzoli- O che sempre mi scordi
20. Trematerra- Canzon
21. Roccia- Madre del Redentore