Puzzi: The Messa a Quattro Voci con Violoncelli, Fagotti, Basso, ed Organo [World Premiere Recording]

The Messa a quattro voci con Violoncelli, Fagotti, Basso, ed Organo (The Mass Set To Four Voices with Cello, Bass, Bassoon and Organ) is an example of a particular type of sacred music that emerged at the end of the 18th century at the Portuguese court, in which the bass instruments imitate a classical orchestral texture.

The resulting instrumental ensemble — two cellos and two bassoons with solo lines, with the bass line assigned to double bass and organ — was to remain standard until the first quarter of the 19th century. A body of some thirty works, including masses, settings of psalms. the Te Deum, Vespers, and responsories is proof enough of the importance of this repertoire in Portuguese musical life in this period; there was nothing equivalent to this instrumentation in other European lands at that time.

This, the first recording of a work from this uniquely Portuguese repertoire with obbligato cellos and bassoons, is also the first recording of a work by António de Pádua Puzzi.

Ensemble Bonne Corde
Diana Vinagre, Director