by C. H. Trevor
From the Concert Hall, Broadcasting House
Prelude and Fugue in C
Choral Prelude, Kommst I Bach du nun, Jesu, Himmel (1685-1750) herunter (Now Comest (1685-1750) Thou, Lord Jesus
Five Pieces by Early Italian Composers:
Dialogo per Organo
Banchieri (1567-1634)
Capriccio on the notes of the Cuckoo
Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
Sonata per Organo
Bassani (1657-1716)
Echo pour Trompette
Merulo (1533-1604)
Ricercare per Organo
Arresti (1630-1695)
Andante in F \Henry Smart
Postlude in C (1813-1879) Mr. Trevor's interesting ' early Italian group consists of pieces by composers, all of whom are probably unknown to the average listener, perhaps even to many professional musicians. Adriano Banchieri and Claudio Merulo were both organists of St. Mark's, Venice, and the latter enjoyed a European reputation as a virtuoso. Pupils came even from North Germany to study with him. Merulo composed numerous motets and madrigals, as well as organ music, and (like his English contemporary Byrd) dabbled in the business of music-publishing.
Giovanni Battista Bassani was a Paduan who settled at Ferrara, where he was the cathedral organist. He is said to have been one of Corelli's teachers. '
We know very little of Giulio Cesare Arresti, beyond the fact that he spent practically the whole of his life in his native city of Bologna.