Frescobaldi was an early example of a composer who specialized in keyboard music. Nevertheless, his music was a melting pot of both vocal and instrumental. Flemish polyphony, madrigalesque twists, operatic declamations, whimsical Venetian toccatas, learned ricercari, popular dance music, church, pub and market square: these are the influences that Frescobaldi forged together into a virtuoso and
… imaginative whole. Luca Guglielmi presents a beautiful cross-section of this oeuvre on both harpsichord and organ. A highlight are the Toccata's 'Per Le Levatione' (for the levy of the host). These toccatas are not written in a dexterous style. These are wonderful harmonic experiments, in which the performer has to let go of his steady sense of tempo. The end is the masterly Bergamasca from the Fiori Musicali: a celebration of freedom in bondage. (HJ)more
