Cantata in Onore di S. Antonio da Padova

Girolamo Rossi
Cantata in Onore di S. Antonio da Padova
Romabarocca Ensemble, Lorenzo Tozzi, Cembalo e Direzione
Giuseppe Grieco, Viol.1
Roberto de Santis, Viol.2
Renato Criscuolo, cello

Girolamo Rossi, an 18th century Neapolitan of whose life and work very little is known, was certainly a Neapolitan Chapelmaster at the Oratory of the SS. Crocefisso dei Cavalieri. With it's Latin text, (St. Augustine's commentary on Psalm 63), the Lectio IV is for Good Friday and has such late baroque, galant or preclassical features which are intended to facilitate both enjoyment of the music and communication of the religious message concerning the dual nature of Christ as son of God and of Man. The scoring of the Lectio IV for psaltery and harpsichord, (rather than organ as was common), is in keeping with the custom of performing sacred music for holy week in Latin in the homes of the Neapolitan aristocracy. In the Cantata in onore di S. Antonio the main characters are allegories - Merit (soprano) and Glory (contralto) - who sing the saint's praises. The tone of the Cantata is in keeping with the relaxed sincerity of popular worship - the Child is called Jesus, never Christ as in oratorios or other more solemn genres. By an unknown author, the text exalts the virtues of St. Anthony and invites the faithful to honor him as a hero whose actions were marked by clarity and openness.

Cantata In Onore Di S. Antonio Da Padova
1. No. 1, Sinfonia. Allegro
2. No. 2, Sinfonia. Largo E Amoroso
3. No. 3, Sinfonia. Balletto Spiritoso
4. No. 4, Suvvia In Trionfo
5. No. 5, Con Echi Festosi
6. No. 6, Quanto Dicesti È Vero
7. No. 7, Con Cento E Mille Voci
8. No. 8, Sì, Già M’è Noto Appieno
9. No. 9, Caro, Gesù Adorato
10. No. 10, Anima Pura E Bella
11. No. 11, Alma Diletta
12. No. 12, Sol Voi D’ira Fremete
13. No. 13, Frema, Ma D’empio Orrore
14. No. 14, Quante Grazie, Quai Doni
15. No. 15, Dunque Che Più S’aspetta
16. No. 16, Su Via A’ Piedi Suoi
17. No. 17, D’ogni Fedele Il Core
Lectio Quarta
18. No. 1, Introduzione
19. No. 2, Ex Tractatu Sancti Augustini
20. No. 3, Protexisti Me Deus
21. No. 4, Multi Martyres
22. No. 5, Protectus Est
23. No. 6, Filius Dei
24. No. 7, Parum Ergo