Ensemble Arte Musica, Francesco Cera & Letizia Calandra - Erotica Antiqua: Neapolitan Villanellas (2017)

The Villanella is closely related to the city of Naples, as Thomas Wythorne already wrote in 1572: “groups of musicians vied with another sing rustic songs..they wandered the streets, improvising verses and songs in honour of the beautiful women they saw at their windows, and created a sweet harmony that delighted all who heard it”. The Villanellas are far removed from the courtly poetry of the time, which sings of yearnings for the unattainable female beloved, speaking of sighs and tears. The Villanella however speak of water as the metaphor of love: dishes break, jugs crack and overflow with eroticism. This new recording features a generous selection of Villanellas by lesser known composers as Giovanni Dell’Arpa and Filippo Azaiolo, but also by renaissance master Orlando di Lasso, who apparently had a soft spot for this genre.

TRACKLIST

01. Villanella che all'acqua vai
02. Boccuccia d'uno persic' aperture
03. Madonna tu mi fai lo scorrucciato
04. Tu sai che la cornacchia
05. Che sia malditta l'acqua
06. La morte di marito
07. Oi ricculina
08. Vurria ca fosse ciaola
09. Vorria crudel tornare
10. Fontana che dai acqua
11. Fuggit' Amore
12. Girometta senza te non viverò
13. Matona mia cara, LV 663
14. Sto core mio
15. Madonna mia, pietà, LV 30
16. O occhi manza mia
17. Chi la gagliarda in F Major
18. O bellissimi capelli
19. Vezzosette e care pupillette ardenti
20. Occhietti amati