Alessandro Della Ciaia
About the composer
Alessandro Della Ciaia (c. 1605-c. 1670) was a nobleman born in Siena, Italy. Although not a professional musician, he composed music as an amateur. Nonetheless, he published three volumes of his compositions, including a collection of madrigals, a collection of lamenti for voice and continuo, and in 1666, the Sacri modulatus, which includes his work ‘Lamentatio Virginis in depositione Filii de cruce’ (Lament of the Virgin at the deposition from the cross of her son).
Despite not being a professional, Della Ciaia displayed expertise in polyphony and writing for solo voice.
He passed away around 1670.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 1666 |
| Performers: | Soprano, mixed chorus and continuo |
| Length: | 17.04 minutes |
| Particulars: | The 'Lamentatio Virginis in depositione Filii de cruce' is composed in a dialogue form. It begins with a duet where the Historian narrates the moment of the deposition from the cross. Following that, the solo voice of Mary sings a lament, which is interrupted three times by a chorus of Angels who sing stanzas from the Stabat Mater poem. In the final part, the Angels join Mary in her lament. |
| Textual variations: | Only three stanzas (3, 5 and 6) are sung as a kind of chorus. In stanza 3 the second line has been changed: |
| Colour bar: |
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Information about the recording
| CD: | Channel Classics CCS 17098: Love & Lament |
| More info: | The disc is a representation of a new development in Italian music, exploring the possibilities of the solo voice with the accompaniment of small ensembles, especially the dialogue form that could be regarded as a predecessor of the oratorio. Recorded June 2001 in de Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. |
| Orchestra: | Cappella Figuralis |
| Choir: | Cappella Figuralis |
| Conductor: | Jos van Veldhoven |
| Soloists: | Johanette Zomer, soprano |
| Other works: | Claudio Monteverdi: Lamento della Ninfa |
| Code: | 2002 - CIA 01 |
