Biagio Marini (1594-1663) now is remembered not only as one of the most famous violin virtuosos of his time and an innovator of instrumental music, but also as a masterly composer of vocal pieces, both sacred and profane. The Concertos, Op. 7 reveal the composers mastery. Adopting some traditional forms of music of the Renaissance such as the canto a ballo and the romanesca, and using ritornellos and refrains interspersed with different formal systems, Marini created complex, dynamic pieces, achieving a splendid synthesis of styles. The Costanzo Porta ensemble from Cremona, directed by Antonio Greco supported by the instrumental ensemble Cremona Antiqua, performs for the first time this previously unknown collection of madrigals including texts by famous poets of the time, inspired by themes and subjects from the pastoral poetry from the early seventeenth century. These are superbly set to music using 'madrigalisms' that, apart from the voices, are extended to the accompanying instruments.
