An effective piece for a high choir with some elaboration and a contrasing slow-moving low choir.
This is one of three double-choir pieces that come at the end of Giovanni Picchi’s Canzoni da sonar con ogni sorte d’instromenti, published in Venice by Alessandro Vincenti in 1625.
(Canzon Decimasettima is also available ↣.)
The three double-choir pieces are the only ones in Picchi’s collection that are not specifically scored.
As one might expect, the most frequently mentioned instruments are violins, cornetts and trombones, but fagotto (curtal) and flauto (recorder) occur also.
The most likely combination for the present piece might be a string choir and a trombone choir, but there are other possibilities.
(Bernard Thomas)
