Dulci

Following the recent, essential compendium of great organ music on 50CD (95310), Brilliant Classics turn to a valuable but lesser-known light in the early history of the organ, Giovanni Salvatore. Active in the middle of the 17th century, this Neapolitan musician was greatly esteemed during his lifetime. One contemporary commentator even placed him above Frescobaldi on the grounds that he could compose fine vocal works without confusing their style with organ music.

When Paul Hillier, an inspiring, English-born choral conductor, moved to Denmark in 2003, he reestablished his choir, Theatre of Voices, in his new country, and they’ve gone from strength to strength. This wonderful program is themed around the Advent star and the great burst of light that Christmas brings to the year’s darkest months. The German-Danish composer Dietrich Buxtehude and some of his German contemporaries provide the fare for this delightful celebration of Christmas, late 17th-century style. Allan Rasmussen intersperses the choral numbers with solo organ pieces, making for an engrossing album of high-class music-making, superbly recorded in Copenhagen’s Garnisonskirken.

Giovanni Battista Fasolo (1598-1680) was born in Asti (Italy) and spent his life as a Franciscan Friar in Rome, Naples and finally as Maestro di Cappella at the Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily. He is mainly known for his “Annuale”, the largest compendium of organ music for liturgical use written in the 17th century.