This is a setting of a text made famous by Giovanni Gabrieli (see ADC27 ↣ in this ADC series.); the text has very specific Venetian connections. Bassano’s setting is more contrapuntal than Gabrieli’s, and makes an attractive foil to his younger colleague’s work. Giovanni Bassano was a famous cornetto player who worked as the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. He published two outstanding works on ornamentation in 1585 and 1591 (some works from these appear in our REP series)
Giovanni Bassano (c. 1558-1617) was a famous cornetto player, joining the instrumental ensemble at St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice, in 1576 and becoming the leader of the ensemble in 1601, a position he occupied until his death. This work is the twelfth piece in:
MOTETTI PER CONCERTI ECCLESIASTICI à5. 6. 7. 8. & 12 Voci, DI GIOVANNI BASSANO Musico della Serenissima Signoria di Venetia, Et Maestro di Musica del Seminario di San Marco. Novamente Composti, & dati in luce. IN VENETIA. Appresso Giacomo Vincenti. 1598.
A volume entitled BASSI PER L’ORGANO…, with a basso seguente part only for the works of seven or more voices, was printed one year later in 1599.
