The full title of the original 1608 edition indicates these fine pieces as for 'any sort of instruments'and they do sound well on recorders, in particular the first, subtitled La spiritata. It is good to have this edition set for SATB recorders, but players must take care with the relationships of tempi between duple and triple time sections as the original note values have probably not been preserved. Gabrieli shows here that his music in four parts can be just as exciting as that for a greater number.
[Note from Hawthorns Music - not part of review: Unfortunately the editorial note explaining the duple/triple relationship was omitted from the initial print run. This error has now been rectified.]
Recorder Magazine, Summer 2000Back to Opening page
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