Foresta

While program music is more strongly associated with the Romantic Era in music than any other era, It was by no means new with that era. This 1754 composition by one of the most popular composers of pieces in concerto grosso form is a set telling a popular tale of the First Crusade, based on Tasso's Gerusalemme liberata. This tale of chivalry, bravery, and romance has been made into countless operas and ballets over the years. Although it was published in 1754 as a purely instrumental work, it had been staged the year before in Paris, as a ballet-pantomime.

A little known group, I Leoni, from Tortona (Piemonte, north-west Italy), had a short career that has just left us two singles and an album, all very rare, produced between 1970 and 1971. They were a trio, led by keyboardist/singer Carlo Riccardi, but all their compositions were by another Riccardi, Enrico, that was not a member of the group and was later an important producer (with popular Italian artists like Patty Pravo and Loredana Bertè). Despite being mostly in the melodic prog field, the ten-track album includes some good instrumental breaks, like in the hypnotic "Lo Stregone" (with organ, percussion and latin-sung vocals in a Jacula style) and interesting progressive arrangements like in "Jena Ridens" or the closing "Il Tramonto".
After the release of the album and the second single, the group brought its line-up to a four-piece with guitarist Paolo Stella and a good concert activity, until they broke up at the beginning of 1973.