Sep 6, 2008

Safe to listen to

Azzolino Bernardino della Ciaja, Siena 1671 - Pisa 1725, was a harpsichordist, organist, organ builder, and a talented composer. As a composer he seems unjustly forgotten. His six sonatas for the keyboard have recently been recorded by Attilio Cremonesi. Cremonesi was once assistant conductor and accompanyist to Rene Jacobs and is today a conductor in his own right; see his recent engagements, including Incoronazzione, here. (I can't believe any artist today may not have his own website). The recording is intelligent and passionate and the instrument has wonderfully rich sonority. The sonatas have a delightfully complex texture. Though some have suggested derivation of Domenico Scarlatti, the style seems to me quite unmistakably Ciaja's own. A delightful, if miserly, 30 second sample can be heard here. Enjoy.

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