Giovanni Felice Sances
About the composer
Giovanni Felice Sances (1600 – 1679) was born in Rome, Italy, but for the largest part of his life, more than 40 years, he worked at the court of Emperor Ferdinand III in Vienna . Here he died. Nowadays he is almost completely forgotten, though his work is certainly worthwhile. It is interesting to note that the “picture” of the music, the written notes, may contain a certain religious symbolism. As an integral part of the Liturgy the music was required to contain the symbolism that was present in the ritual. On a visional level this was achieved, for instance, with the intentional use of the sharp accidental (#) each time that the Cross, the symbol of Christ’s Passion, is mentioned. This visual depiction is also used by Sances.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 1636 |
| Performers: | Soprano (or alto), harp, archlute, organ, lirone, violone (or solo organ) |
| Length: | CD 1: 12.31 minutes, CD 2: 11.57 minutes |
| Particulars: | The work is divided into six sections. Sances's Stabat Mater Dolorosa, subtitled Pianto della Madonna, Mottetti a voce sola is musically characterized by descending motifs, which are a musical depiction of lamentation. These motifs can be frequently found in works meant for use in the Holy Week. It is interesting to notice that the two versions I have are by different voices. The use of the contemporary instruments, like archlute and lirone (a kind of double-bass with some extra strings), gives a very special "colour" to the performance on the first CD. In the second CD the accompaniment is a solo organ. In my opinion, a beautiful Stabat Mater. |
| Textual variations: | The "Analecta"-text is used, but in CD 1 with one small change that I never encountered before: |
| Colour bar: |
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Information about the recording
| CD1: | Ricercar RIC 166148: The Heritage of Monteverdi II |
| More info: | The second of a series dedicated to less-known composers from Monteverdi’s time. The use of the contemporary instruments, like archlute and lirone in combination with cornet and trombone, gives a very special “color” to the compositions. Very good. Recorded at the Eglise de Mormont, November 1995. I bought this CD on the Internet, CDNow, 1997 |
| Orchestra: | Ensemble Fenice |
| Conductor: | Jean Tubery |
| Soloists: | Maria Christina Kiehr, soprano |
| Other works: | Adriano Banchieri: Mulier, cur ploras hic |
| Code: | 1997 SAN-01 |
| CD2: | Nuova Era 7030: Jommelli – Agonia di Cristo e altre musiche per il venerdi santo (and other music for Good Friday) |
| More info: | Three sacred works for use in the Holy Week. Recorded at the Chiesa S.Michele Maggiore, Pavia, in May 1991. I bought this CD in a record shop in the Netherlands, 1998. |
| Soloists: | Caterina Calvi, alto |
| Other works: | Niccolo Jomelli: Agonia di Cristo |
| Code: | 1998 SAN-02 |
