EARLY ORGAN MUSIC
Played by G. D. CUNNINGHAM
Relayed from THE QUEEN'SHALLl
(Sole Lessees, Messrs. Chappell and Co., Ltd.)
Italian Composers
Canzona...Andrea Oabiieli (1510-1586)
THE Gabrieli family was an important one in Italian music in the sixteenth century. The outstanding members were Andrea and his nephew Giovanni, an example of whose work was broadcast last week. Andrea was born in Venice and died there, hut his fame as a contrapuntist spread throughout Europe during . his lifetime. Amongst his best-known pupils was Sweelinck, an organ piece by whom will be heard in this series on Wednesday.
Ricercare......Paleslrina (1525-1594)
GIOVANNI PALESTRINA was without doubt the most celebrated musician of his age. This period has often been called the 'Golden Age,' for not only in Italy was there a great creative movement in music, but in other European countries, including England, where Byrd, Gibbons, Morley, and Tallis were making history. Palestrina wrote nearly one hundred masses, and twice that number of motets, and technically his work reached the highest limits of perfection in the art of modal composition.
Toccata ..Claudio Merulo (1533-1604)
CLAUDIO MERULO spent most of his active life in Venice. He was an organist of exceptional brilliance, and his playing attracted students from every part of the world.
Prelude and Fugue in G Minor
Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
GIROLAMO FRESCOBALDI was the most distinguished organist of the seventeenth century. At one time he was organist at Antwerp, but later was appointed to St. Peter's, Rome, where his playing used to draw huge audiences humbering as many as 30,000 people. He is held to have founded a school of organ playing which influenced the whole of Europe.